Netanyahu: "prepared to intensify" • Barak: "to hit when needed"

The Cabinet meeting this morning (Sunday) dealt, among others, with the tension in the south.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began by wishing "a speedy and complete recovery to our soldiers who were wounded and to injured civilians," adding words of encouragement to "southern residents who stand up bravely and calmly in face of a situation which is not simple."

As to the IDF attack Netanyahu said: "The IDF is working and will work firmly against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, and they get beaten strongly by the IDF. The world must understand that Israel will not sit idly against attempts to harm us. We are ready to intensify the reaction. At the same time we are closely following what is happening on our border with Syria, where we are also prepared for any development. "

Watch Netanyahu promising in the last elections, "We'll smash Hamas':

Before they entered the conference room Transportation Minister Israel Katz, also referred to the tension in the South. "I am part of a million people sitting in shelters and bomb shelters whenever there is an alarm. Southern residents can not exist more in this situation and we have to change it! Israel must act with a very clear policy in Gaza. We must eliminate the Hamas leadership which is responsible for the attacks and shooting. Beyond that, we have to disengage from a civil Gaza - electricity, water, food, fuel, and move to a deterrent policy like in southern Lebanon. "

"Why do they not shoot from southern Lebanon and from Gaza they do? Because there is no clear boundary with Gaza. Because the civil contact with Gaza is unreasonable. We should relate to Gaza as a border and for any harm to us, to hurt back. When I see Palestinians fleeing into Sinai, just as citizens of southern Lebanon flee to Beirut when there is a barrage of fire at Israel - we will know that deterrence has been achieved. "

In his words to the media this morning Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that "We live in a difficult environment, not Western Europe and not North America. There is no mercy for the weak and not a second chance for those who can not defend themselves. One has to be strong, to hit when needed, and to continue developing the country, to build it and strengthen it. We are never going to make our neighbors disappear, they are not going to become Dutch and Belgians. "

Interior Minister Eli Yishai, also implied the need for an Israeli response. "The events in South require a change in rules of the game, no more they shoot and we respond. Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself, and whoever remains silent today should not raise his voice when Israel responds."

Did the various speakers imply an imminent attack? - Time will tell.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!