Ya'alon on prisoners' release: We'll pay a price
Day after cabinet votes to release 104 Palestinian prisoners as part of peace talks, defense minister says, 'We had to choose between a bad decision and even worse one. We will pay a cost in terms of deterrence'
He further noted, "We had to choose between a bad decision and an even worse one. It wasn't an easy day. These are murderers and of course we'll pay a cost in terms of deterrence."
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Addressing the peace process' chances of success, he said: "A third intifada is not in the cards and neither were the threats of a political tsunami. I advise the prime minister and cabinet ministers not to take such threats into consideration. The Palestinians were the ones to walk out on negotiations in the past four years. We will not sacrifice anything connected to security during negotiations."
Ya'alon stressed there were many question marks surrounding the talks. "We will ask the other side whether they recognize Israel as the Jewish people's nation state and whether a territorial compromise will end all claims."
Addressing the turmoil in Egypt he said, "The Egyptian army is in the midst of an operation in Sinai and we wish them success. There is an actual war being waged in Sinai and we are monitoring the developments in coordination with Egypt."
Meanwhile it has been reported that Israel is preparing to transfer food and gas to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom so as not to exacerbate the Strip's economic state following the destruction of the majority of smuggling tunnels by the Egyptian army.
A senior defense source said, "There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. There is economic pressure following the destruction of the tunnels which still serve for the transfer of cheap fuel. Hamas has dealt with the two latest rocket attacks at Israel, and is trying to maintain calm."
Discussing the issue of hardei draft, Ya'alon said that he decided to postpone the enlistment of 550 haredim from August to November "because we still need to pass the new draft bill in second and third readings."
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