Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu last week attended a ceremony in Sderot to mark the completion of an area structural reinforcement project to provide additional safety to local residents. He used the forum to send a clear message to the Hamas regime in Gaza, stating;

“The operation has now given us the quietest two years that we have had in the past decade. See, while we cannot shape the strategic environment in which we live, we do have possibility of achieving deterrence against our enemies and, to the extent that it proves necessary, to inflict significant damage on the infrastructures of terror. Our policy is to respond vigorously to any violation – no matter how small – of the calm, and you see this, and make it clear to those on the other side that the rules of the game have changed. Quiet here equals quiet in Gaza. Attacking us will lead to ruin and destruction for Hamas, Islamic Jihad and whoever tries to attack us from the other side of the fence. We will respond in strength to any attempt to attack our communities and our citizens.”

Mr. Netanyahu added, “I would like to emphasize that while structural reinforcement is a lifesaving step, it is no substitute for our offensive striking power. I am constantly hearing about what Hamas is doing but I know what we are doing. I know what we are planning. I know how we are organizing. I know but I do not intend to tell you.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)