Jerusalem, 4 March 1996
Day after day, difficult day after difficult day, I feel that it my duty to maintain a responsible and orderly conduct of the country's affairs and its security affairs ... and to manage affairs after a due consideration according to the best professional advice that can be received.
I would already like to say that, as a result of the decisions we reached before, the Palestinian Police has imprisoned the people who organized the three recent attacks in Jerusalem and Ashkelon. Today, we have a clear picture regarding what occurred. This evening, upon learning about this terrible tragedy in Tel Aviv, I came to this city, convened the heads of the security establishment -- the IDF Chief of Staff and members of his staff, the Minister of Public Security and the Israel Police Inspector-General, the head of the GSS, the Prime Minister's Adviser on Counter-Terrorism -- and we carefully listened to every professional and responsible piece of advice which should be heard, in order to reach decisions. I can say that all the operational advice that was given I accepted, almost all -- except for one or two which, for legal reasons, I could not accept -- and I also brought them to the Cabinet meeting, which was held afterward.
To this I decided, after I again consulted with the Chief of Staff and my fellow cabinet members, to establish a special task force -- not simply to fight terrorism, but rather to fight a war against suicide terrorism. A distinction must be drawn between the terrorism that we knew in the past, and the terrorism which which we are experiencing, which is a unique sort of terrorism, with a special modus operandi.
I was asked where we would operate; my answer was -- everywhere. I was asked whether we would violate the law; one law we will not violate -- that is the law of national and personal security of the State of Israel. It is legal for a nation to protect itself. And that is, first and foremost, the law that I intend to honor.
It was decided to establish the task force. Heading the staff will be one of the most superb officers that I know, who just recently retired from the IDF and was appointed to head the GSS -- Admiral (res.) Ami Ayalon. We decided to give him all the [necessary] means, and we said that it is permissible to operate anywhere, in order to strike at, punish and damage the people responsible for this horrible terrorism, the members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
In war, as always in war, I know that there are not only victories in war, but that blows are also absorbed. And I hope that we all stand as we must, even when our eyes are damp, with our heads up and with a critical eye to what is possible and what is not. What can be done, will be done -- and what is just talk will be rejected.
I myself believe that we will overcome this. I would have liked this to be easier, with less agony and fewer casualties, but this does not depend upon any of us. In my spirit and mind, I can see the path that leads to overcoming this form of warfare. We have overcome many wars -- conventional wars and terrorist wars, and now there is suicide warfare. We will reach every corner where the root of this twisted terrorism begins to grow.
Over the course of the day, I received a large number of requests and telephone calls; just recently, I had a long conversation with the President of the United States, who of course said that the United States will assist wherever possible. I directed his attention to the Syrian angle. And I turned his attention to our demands from Arafat; Arafat has announced that he has arrested four of those on the list we have submitted to him -- and that he is continuing to go from house to house, and to continue these arrests. I also asked the President to urgently put at our disposal equipment for the detection of explosives.
Also among the measures we decided upon, it was decided to put all those related to terrorism under administrative detention. It was decided to deal with all villages from which the suicide terrorists have, or will, come. As you now, already this morning, the IDF raided the village of Fawar -- from where two suicide attackers came -- going from house to house, and carrying out arrests when necessary. The houses belonging to the families of the suicide terrorists will be sealed, and later destroyed.
This is a war in which we will employ a strong and outstretched arm. This is a defensive war for the State of Israel. The authority is in our hands, and actually binds us to act as such.
I want to say that, despite the difficulty and pain, I have found that the security institutions are fully functioning, that things are being properly considered -- that those things which must be done immediately are being done immediately, and that those things which must be done in the longer term will be done as required. Thank you.