PM calls on IDF to act against terror ‘everywhere and without restrictions’

Meanwhile, President Reuven Rivlin, during a meeting of industrialists in Nazareth, called on Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to return to talks.

By HERB KEINON
Updated: APRIL 7, 2016 01:46
Netanyahu and his security cabinet visit IDF's Judea and Samaria division (photo credit: PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE)
Netanyahu and his security cabinet visit IDF's Judea and Samaria division
(photo credit: PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE)
Amid reports that Israel and the Palestinian Authority are negotiating a deal to restrict IDF action in Palestinian- controlled areas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the IDF to continue its anti-terrorist offensive “everywhere and without restriction.”
Netanyahu’s comments came during a tour the security cabinet made of the IDF’s Judea and Samaria Division, hearing a briefing from top IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) officials at lookouts at Kochav Ya’acov and Psagot near Ramallah.
The ministers, according to a statement put out by the Prime Minister’s Office, were told that there has been a significant decrease of late in the number of terrorist attacks and the number of wounded. They were briefed by OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Roni Numa and a Shin Bet representative.
Haaretz reported Wednesday that progress has been made in talks limiting Israeli incursions into Area A, the part of the West Bank under complete PA control.
According to the report, the security cabinet was to get its first briefing on the status of those talks, which reportedly included Numa.
Officials in the Prime Minister’s Office denied this was the purpose of the security cabinet tour and meeting.
“The IDF will retain the right always to act everywhere according to operational needs,” one official said.
Meanwhile, President Reuven Rivlin, during a meeting of industrialists in Nazareth, called on Netanyahu and PA President Mahmoud Abbas to return to talks.
“I listened with great interest to the prime minister’s words yesterday that, if Abu Mazen [Abbas] sees Hamas as a problem and not a solution, we would be very happy to restart negotiations.
I call on both of them to bring about an understanding of how we can live side by side,” he said.