Bennett looks to demolish illegal Palestinian businesses at Ariel Junction
The defense minister reportedly gave the order after meeting with Tamar Ettinger, widow of Rabbi Ahiad Ettinger, who was killed at Ariel Junction last year along with 19-year-old St.-Sgt. Gal Keidan.
By ALEX WINSTONDefense Minister Naftali Bennett and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Did Bennett teach Netanyahu a lesson this week? (photo credit: ATEF SAFADI/POOL VIA REUTERS)
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has instructed his office to look into what can be done to demolish illegal Palestinian businesses at the Ariel Junction, on the pretense that these companies were a party to the murder of Rabbi Ahiad Ettinger, who died in a terror attack there last year.Journalist Haggai Huberman reported in Matzav HaRuah that Bennett gave the order following a meeting on Tuesday with Tamar Ettinger, widow of Rabbi Ettinger, who was killed at the junction last year.On March 17 of last year, Palestinian terrorist Omar Abu Lila stabbed IDF soldier Gal Keidan, who was on guard duty at the junction. Lila then stole Keidan's weapon and shot and killed him. He then shot at three vehicles, including one that belonged to Ettinger, sending three bullets through the windshield.Ettinger was the father of 12 and was head of the Oz and Emunah Yeshiva in south Tel Aviv.Bennett met with his widow during a tour of the Binyamin Regional Council and said to her, "Part of the work that I am trying to do is to prevent the next attack, to harm the terrorists [ability to carry out attacks]. I will make sure that terrorists don't earn money to harm us."He said he does not have plans to "relax" his efforts anytime soon.Ettinger asked Bennett to take action against the Palestinian businesses at Ariel Junction not only because they are illegal, but because she feels that they are a disruption in the area and can hinder the work done by IDF soldiers patrolling there.At Ettinger's funeral, Bennett was one of those to eulogize, saying that "Rabbi Ahiad was a hero in his life and death."
