Harsh Israeli criticism over US’ condemnation of IDF’s demolition of terrorist’s home
Israeli lawmakers had harsh words for the US Embassy in Jerusalem after it condemned the IDF’s demolition of the home of terrorist Muntasar Shalabi, who murdered Israeli yeshiva student Yehuda Guetta in Samara at the beginning of May.
Yehuda Guetta. (Courtesy)
The IDF raised Shalabi’s house in the town of Turmus –Aya early Thursday morning, a routine act of deterrence for potential terrorists plotting future attacks.
In response, the US Embassy stated that it “believes it is critical for all parties to refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution, this certainly includes the punitive demolition of Palestinian homes.”
“As we stated numerous times, the home of an entire family should not be demolished for the actions of one individual,” it added.
Shalabi is a US citizen.
Such a statement was rarely issued by the Trump administration and is apparently a new policy adopted by the Biden administration.
Member of Knesset (MK) Miri Regev rejected the criticism and accused Prime Minister Bennett’s “left-wing government” of “being lax towards the Americans.”
“When there is a weak government in Israel, the weakness is recognized in both Washington and Tehran. This is also the reason why they are trying to generate new equations, which harm the security of the state,” she said.
“The American equation that the destruction of a terrorist’s home harms one family, deserves to be answered with the question of why the destruction of the life of an entire family that was destroyed by one abominable terrorist is ignored?” she demanded.
MK Itamar Ben Gvir also condemned the American statement and told the US embassy “not to interfere in the security policy of the sovereign state of Israel.”
“Israel can defend itself, it must deter its enemies, and I expect Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to make the matter clear to the Americans,” he said.
A source in Bennett’s team appeared to reject the US statement when he said that “the Prime Minister appreciates and respects the American administration. At the same time, he acts solely in accordance with the security considerations of the State of Israel and the protection of the lives of Israeli citizens.”
Here we go, with Biden’s weak, old and tired rhetoric re the Palestinians, two state solution, etc. – blah, blah. This will be trotted out from here on, no matter the situation. Pathetic.
Incidentally, start of second para. should read: IDF razed Shalabi’s house …, not ‘IDF raised Shalabi’s house’, which, of course, means the opposite.
Demolishing useful buildings is not the answer. A house is just an object not an insurgent.