Netanyahu: ISIS, Hamas, al-Qaida all branches of the same poison tree

Prime minister sends condolences to UK after David Haines beheaded: "The main difference between ISIS and Hamas is that these guys cut off heads, while the other guys shoot at heads."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Netanyahu speaks alongside Israel Bonds leadership delegation‏ (photo credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)
Netanyahu speaks alongside Israel Bonds leadership delegation‏
(photo credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned against the rising tide of extremism in the world on Sunday, asserting that the Islamic State, Hamas, al-Qaida, the Nusra Fronta, Boko Haram and Hezbollah are all "branches of the same poison tree."
Speaking during a meeting with a visiting Israel Bonds leadership delegation, Netanyahu said all of the groups in question share the same ideology.
"The main difference between ISIS [Islamic State] and Hamas is that these guys cut off heads, while the other guys shoot at heads."
Netanyahu sent his condolences to the British people for the loss of David Haines, the British aid worker who was purportedly beheaded by an Islamic State terrorist in Syria, as seen in a video released on Saturday.
"We understand the barbarism that they are dealing with," Netanyahu said.
He added that the threats spreading in the area were also posing a challenge to Israel's defense of its own borders.
"We need a very strong defense against them. We need a strong army and also a strong economy. Achieving a balance between them is one of the central goals before us and I intend to achieve both strong security and a strong economy," Netanyahu said.