Netanyahu praises US for bin Laden assassination

Peres: World can breathe a sigh of relief; Lieberman says very significant that announcement came on Holocaust Memorial Day.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu open mouth 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS/Yin Dongxun)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu open mouth 311 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS/Yin Dongxun)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised the United States on Sunday for killing Osama bin Laden, seeing a "resounding triumph" for Washington and its allies.
"This is a resounding triumph for justice, freedom and the values shared by all democratic nations fighting shoulder to shoulder in determination against terrorism," Netanyahu said in a statement.
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Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman praised the US and Barack Obama for carrying out the successful mission that killed the al Qaida leader.
"I praise the US completing the mission that lasted 11 years. They never gave up, they continued on the hunt for the most dangerous man in the world," the foreign minister said during an interview with Army Radio.
Lieberman pointed out that it is very significant that it happened on Holocaust Memorial Day. The foreign minister explained that his office was updated moments before Obama made his announcement.
Lieberman said that even though he was based in Afghanistan, bin Laden's death holds great operational significance. "Bin Laden was the spiritual leader of the terror organization but he was also the operational leader behind many terror attacks," he said. 
"It is too early to tell exactly what influence bin Laden's death will have but al Qaida is built on a structure that is spread out all over the world, therefore there will be some sort of influence," the foreign minister said.
President Shimon Peres on Monday praised the killing of bin Laden as well, calling it a great achievement for the US defense establishment, Obama and the free world, Israel Radio reported.
"Bin Laden was one of the biggest murderers in history and he received his sentence," Peres stated. "The world can breathe a sigh of relief at seeing the punishment he received, despite the fact that justice was late in coming," he added.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised Obama, the US defense secretary and the leaders of the US military apparatus for the assassination of bin Laden.
"This is an important achievement for the US war on global terror," Barak stated. "The US showed perseverance and operational daring on this mission," he added.
"We have proven once again that the war on terror common to all the leading democracies of the world will be decided through a far-reaching, shared effort that has not come to an end."
Opposition leader Tzipi Livni  sadi the assassination of bin Laden represented "a change in the equation of the free world's struggle, led by the US, against terror."
"Israel is a partner to the free world's values and the fight against terror, and the struggle to preserve those values...and praises the American people for this monumental achievement," she added.