Palmach Zeevi, the son of assassinated minister Rehavam Zeevi, said in response to the IDF operation in Jericho to apprehend his father’s killers “This is a great day for Israelis.”
The security establishment gave the go-ahead for the operation after intelligence information indicated that the Palestinian Authority was planning on releasing the terrorists in the coming days.
Zeevi told Ynet that the operation should make all Israelis happy, not only those who supported his father’s political agenda, as he was “the tourism minister of all of us.”
Zeevi said Israel should have ‘settled the score’ on the day of his father’s murder.
“In this war the other side dared to harm Israel’s sovereignty and murder a symbol of its regime,” he said.
'Olmert did well'
“The score should have been settled right then and there, but today’s operation is also a wise move.”
Zeevi disagreed with the claims that the operation is a Kadima elections ploy, saying “No political motives are involved here, although we will never really know; but (Acting Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert’s decision is correct.”
“I think I feel today what seven million Israelis feel – pride – because we encountered the same determination that characterized Israel’s founders and Gandhi (Rehavam Zeevi’s nickname.)”
Zeevi, who has publicly stated his support for Olmert, praised the acting prime minister’s Hamas policy.
“Olmert did well in deciding that in his war against terror and the Arabs there are no political limitations; Israel must strike everywhere, all the time, especially at a time when Hamas, and organization that calls for Israel’s destruction, rose to power,” he said.