Netanyahu: Terrorists are deterred, flag parade will take place as planned

May 15, 2023   

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Operation Shield and Arrow in Gaza today (Monday), at the start of the Likud faction meeting in the Knesset. "I just came from Ashkelon. I was at the marina and I met happy, smiling, joyful people who are sitting in cafes and supporting the government's determined fight against terrorism. "Earlier, I was at Jacqueline's house. A single mother, she has a son with special needs. When she needs to get to the military base, she can't get there, because she doesn't have a military base. We must take care of protection and we will change the equation in protection. The government took it upon itself by providing military bases and evacuating construction," Netanyahu said. He stated: "Something has changed. We came to change the deterrence equation, and not for the first time. The most significant change in the balance of deterrence took place two years ago in Operation "Guardian of the Walls." Since Operation "Guardian of the Walls," Hamas has not fired a single rocket into our territory. They are deterred. "Operation "Guardian of the Walls," which dealt Hamas the hardest blow in its history, caused a change in the deterrence equation, and it has been working for two years." He emphasized: "Our intention in Operation "Shield and Arrow" was to change the balance of deterrence against Islamic Jihad. The difference came not only because of the targeted assassinations that we have been carrying out for 16 years when I was prime minister, but we did it calmly and wholesale. We took out half of the Islamic Jihad leadership in a surprise strike and the other half during the operation. The message was conveyed not only in Gaza, but 270 degrees. Anyone who comes to harm us, anyone who plans to harm us, will now better understand the meaning of the words "your blood on your heads." We are changing the balance of deterrence." Regarding the flag dance march, he promised: "I also say this ahead of Jerusalem Day. The flag parade will take place on its course, in its order and in its order. We are working for Israel's security and will continue to do so together and with great success.".