Defense minister says "distress in Gaza is a result of the Palestinians' choice of their leadership."
By JPOST.COM STAFFBarak intense 224.88(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Defense Minister Ehud Barak blamed the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for creating their own situation on Tuesday saying, "Hamas is responsible for all distress in Gaza and will bear all the consequences."
"The distress in Gaza is a result of the Palestinians' choice of their leadership," Barak stated during a ceremony to mark the laying of a cornerstone at a new factory in Sderot.
Barak said that the army acts in the Gaza Strip as part of its obligation to ensure the security of residents of the area. The "IDF will continue to stand guard at every confrontation that [Hamas] forces upon us," he said, and continued by reassuring listeners that "the IDF will succeed in a decisive manner."
Barak also suggested "that Israelis take seriously the warning not to travel to Sinai in the near future." On Monday, Israel warned of the "imminent mortal danger" tourists face in traveling to Sinai due to threats of kidnapping. Travelers were recommended to "abstain from all visits to Egypt and to leave the country immediately."
Although some other countries mentioned in the warning were not listed as posing a grave danger, they nonetheless contained a medium degree of risk for Israeli travelers. Such destinations include Thailand, The Philipines, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
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