3 March 1996
Good afternoon. We awoke this morning to a terrible blow, for everyone, with no exception, for the entire country. I have no intention of detracting in any way, from the enormity of the blow or its pain. At the same time, the solution is not crying and not demonstrations; the solution is a correct analysis of the steps which can, and should be implemented, without hesitation. HAMAS has decided to attack Israelis and to destroy peace -- in my opinion it has decided to return the Palestinians to a world of despair, hatred and animosity. Of course, when such an incident occurs, when I stood this morning next to the bus, the initial reaction is a human one, to see the bodies of the victims; to share in the sorrow of the families, to pray for the recovery of the wounded, women, men, young people, old people. I am sorry that sorrow has to unite the nation.
The difficult and cruel problem is that HAMAS has decided to turn people into explosives, indiscriminately, everywhere. Through a terrible fraud by extremist clerics and leaders, they take unsuspecting youths, tell them that they will ascend directly to Paradise and send them to kill and to die. They, themselves, remain on this Earth. They do not commit suicide, they are not killed -- they tempt [others]. As far as I know, all religions reject suicide. We expect that every believing person, every civilized person, will know how to discern this terrible attempt to plant lunatic ideas in the hearts of people -- perhaps innocent people as well -- in broad daylight. As to the operative conclusion for us, we view these incidents to be war in every sense of the word. Even if it hurts, we will fight. It is a war that necessitates unequivocal measures, including emergency measures -- which cannot be delayed and which must be immediately implemented. I have resolved, along with my colleagues in the Cabinet and I think with the entire constituency of all parties to raze this organization unto its foundation.
Every correct idea to be raised and that can be implemented, will be implemented by us. We will not be deterred from taking any measure, we will not spare any effort. We have decided to give this war the highest, and most unequivocal priority. Everything we possess -- in manpower, ideas and means -- will be focussed first and foremost, on conducting this war, forcefully and immediately.
The Cabinet met this morning and made a number of decisions -- decisions in principle, practical decisions and decisions regarding other bodies as well. The first decision in principle was to view Israel as being engaged in a comprehensive war against HAMAS and the other terrorist organizations. We decided on an immediate reinforcement of the security forces in Jerusalem, with both police and IDF personnel. This reinforcement has already begun. We will fill this city with security personnel, in order to give this city the required security.
We have decided to station soldiers and policemen at transportation points in order to check everyone who boards a bus. Soldiers will also be checked because, apparently, some of the suicide-terrorists disguised themselves as soldiers. We have decided to bolster intelligence efforts both in the city of Jerusalem and in other places. There is no doubt that the first and most important arm in this battle, is -- first and foremost -- the intelligence.
We have decided to take legal measures against the families of the suicide- terrorists; their houses will be sealed, and if necessary, they will be destroyed, in accordance with the law. We have decided to no longer allow joyous celebrations in memory of the suicide-terrorists. Even now, a closure has been, or will soon be, imposed on the village of Al-Fawar, from where the two terrorists came. Their houses will be sealed and measures will also be taken to destroy them.
We have decided to create a special unit to provide security for buses. Approximately 800 men -- excellent and experienced combat soldiers who will escort the buses. Security on the buses will have a central place in our new deployment.
We have decided to separate the population of Israel from the population in the territories. From now on, passage from one side to the other will supervised. We have decided to create supervised crossing stations between these two areas. We have decided to prevent the illegal entry of vehicles and people to and from the territories. Those who violate this law, whether they are Israelis or from the territories, will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. We have decided to budget close to NIS 300 million in order to immediately carry out these objectives -- of this, approximately NIS 247 million for separation purposes and NIS 40 million to create the special unit to provide security on buses.
We have decided to demand three clear things from the Palestinian Authority. One is to outlaw the terrorist organizations, including the military wing of HAMAS and of Islamic Jihad. Arafat told me this morning that he accepts this demand, and that he would pass it on. We have demanded that the terrorists be disarmed. We have demanded that people whom we believe stand at the head of these organizations be arrested. These are three uncompromising demands. We are not requesting that Arafat protect us. We do not want Arafat to serve us. We want Arafat to do what every responsible person does in his own country -- not allow two armed groups to operate, each according to its own way. Either he will exercise control, or we will have to draw conclusions. We have decided to operate against the HAMAS infrastructure in every possible place, and with every means at our disposal.
We have decided to appeal to the Arab countries -- and to the rest of the nations of the world -- to condemn this abominable murder, and also to appeal to the clerics and ask them if they shun or encourage this severe act. I am not saying that it is simple, but in such instances, a people must unite, feel its pain quietly, and act resolutely. I can not promise that we will not have any further painful experiences, but I can promise that no pain, no blow, will introduce any doubt whatsoever in our hearts that it is in our power to overcome them. And we will overcome. And when matters having to do with national security are in the balance, national security and personal security will be a supreme and uncompromising consideration. We have seen this in wars. We have seen this in terrorist incidents, and we see it this way today as well.