‘We cannot be broken!’
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued a recorded statement Wednesday evening to the Israeli public reassuring them as to the measure being taken to deal with the latest wave of terrorism in their country.
Scene of Bnei Brak attack Photo: Elyashiv Rakowsky/TPS on 29 March, 2022
In the past week alone, 11 people were murdered in three separate terrorist attacks in Israel. 5, including a police officer, were killed Tuesday night in an attack in Bnei Brak.
“Citizens of Israel, we are currently experiencing a wave of murderous terrorism and, just like in all the previous waves, we will prevail, together,” said Bennett.
The Prime Minister assured the Israeli public that in the last 24 hours the nation’s security establishment has been acting with “full force” to restore security to Israel’s cities as well as the sense of security to its citizens.
According to Bennett, the IDF and the Israel Police have significantly increased their intelligence operations in order to prevent further attacks. And the Israel Police is now working in an emergency capacity. At the same time, the IDF will be reinforcing the police, with 15 companies of its best soldiers.
“Also, we have decided to establish the ‘Border Police Brigade,’” said Bennet, “which is new. This is a strategic move, beyond the current wave of terrorism, as a lesson from Operation Guardians of the Walls. We established an immediate response motorcycle unit; this is the force that eliminated the terrorist in Bnei Brak last night.”
The Prime Minister said that security forces have carried out more than 200 investigations and arrest operations. He also directed that anyone who is known to have had any connection with ISIS be investigated and even arrested preemptively and expediting the continued discovery and confiscation of illegal weapons in the Arab sector.
Also, the IDF has reinforced its units in Judea and Samaria and along the separation barrier with 15 battalions.
As of now, soldiers in mandatory, career and reserve service, from rifle-level 3 and up, will carry their weapons home from their bases and the government may call upon civilian volunteers who want to help and be of assistance.
“What is expected of you,” he added, “citizens of Israel? Alertness and responsibility. Open your eyes. Whoever has a license to carry a weapon, this is the time to carry it. I would like to note the heroism and courage of police officer the late Amir Khoury, whose father I spoke with. Amir engaged the terrorist last night and paid with his life. We will remember him always.”
Bennett also reminded the Israeli public that this is not the first or even the second wave of terrorism that they have experienced. “We have experience with struggle,” he said. “Israeli society, when it is tested, knows how to show composure, remain resilient and rise to the occasion. We cannot be broken.”
