PM: Attack shows importance of the border fence

Netanyahu praises fighters for preventing a far deadlier attack, confirms departure to UN immediately after Yom Kippur.

By HERB KEINON
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at cabinet meeting 370 (photo credit: Pool/ Emil Salman )
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at cabinet meeting 370
(photo credit: Pool/ Emil Salman )
Friday’s clash on the Egyptian border that left one IDF soldier and three terrorists dead just proves how important the government’s decision was a couple years ago to build the 240-km. fence that is now nearing completion, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday.
Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said the fence – and the IDF activities along it – prevent not only the entrance of illegal migrants, but also the infiltration of terrorist cells.
The prime minister pointed out that the soldier who died, Cpl. Netanel Yahalomi, did not have a combat medical profile, but through stubborn determination fought to be a combat soldier “so he could defend the homeland.”
Netanyahu also praised the soldiers of the Caracal unit – that includes both men and women in active combat positions – for their role in preventing the terrorist cell from infiltrating.
“I want to praise the actions of the fighters, men and women, in preventing an attack that could have been much more deadly,” he said.
“I think this also underscores again the importance of the government’s decision to erect the security fence on the Sinai border.”
Netanyahu also told the cabinet he will be leaving immediately after Yom Kippur Wednesday night for New York to address the UN General Assembly.
Referring to Iran, Netanyahu said he will “say again that it is forbidden for the most dangerous nation in the world to get the most dangerous weapons in the world.”
The prime minister told the cabinet that during his three day stay he would meet with UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, who he criticized sharply last month for attending the Non-Aligned Movement’s summit in Tehran. He will also meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who he praised earlier this month for taking a “moral stand” and cutting ties with Iran; and with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who he indirectly criticized two weeks ago for being unwilling to lay down “red lines” on Iran.
Netanyahu is also expected to meet with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak is in New York, and expected to meet with Clinton Sunday evening.
He has held a number of meetings in the US in recent days, including with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to US President Barack Obama.
Barak has reportedly stressed that Netanyahu’s comments about the need for red lines on Iran have nothing to do with the US elections, but rather only with concern about Iranian progress on its nuclear program.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman will be flying with Netanyahu to New York and will also hold diplomatic meetings there.