Bennett: Policy of hiding behind barriers responsible for Tel Aviv terror attack

Bayit Yehudi minister says Abbas "has become Arafat's successor, just in different clothes. He's a terrorist in a suit and he must be treated that way."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Naftali Bennett at a Bayit Yehudi convention at Tel Aviv University, September 10, 2014. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Naftali Bennett at a Bayit Yehudi convention at Tel Aviv University, September 10, 2014.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Economy Minister Naftali Bennett lashed out at the government's policies regarding recent terror attacks, saying that they had led to Monday's attack in which a Palestinian man stabbed and critically wounded an IDF soldier in Tel Aviv.
"This is a terrible terror attack which proves that the concept of hiding behind barriers is bankrupt," Bennett said. The Bayit Yehudi Minister had spoken out against the police decision to set up concrete barriers at Jerusalem light rail stations to prevent vehicular terror attacks which have killed three people in recent weeks.
"It is not possible to barricade people in the streets, but rather we must put those responsible for incitement, fireworks and the rioters in jail. This is correct security policy" he said.
He said that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas "has become Arafat's successor, just in different clothes. He's a terrorist in a suit and he must be treated that way."
Bayit Yehudi MK Moti Yogev said following Monday's attack that yet again, “a Palestinian illegal worker” has committed a terror attack in the heart of the country."
He touted a bill he has proposed to put in place “stricter punishments” for those who employ workers illegally as “part of the solution” to minimize illegal employment.
He urged security forces to tackle this phenomenon and “prevent these workers from using subsidized buses, unhindered," in Israel.
Likud MK Danny Danon said following the attack that Israel is now facing an intifada. "We are in an intifada. I call on the prime minister and the public security minister to make it clear to our enemies who is sovereign in the State of Israel," Danon said.
"Weakness has become part of the decision-making process in the government," Danon added.
He accused Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of "speaking instead of acting," in the face of "terrorists dragging us into a war of attrition."
Knesset Interior Committee chairwoman Miri Regev (Likud) called on Netanyahu to continue to "personally handle" the issue of terrorism, after the Tel Aviv attack.
"The government must decide on a plan of action that will restore the sense of personal security to the citizens of Israel," she said, calling on the public to be alert in light of the "latest sequence of events."
Security forces and police need to increase their presence throughout the entire country, she urged, and ensure terrorists receive "severe" punishment.
"We must eradicate terror," the Likud MK said, "and at the same time send a clear message" that no one is above the rule of law.