Barak: IDF's iron fist will land on Fogel murderers

Funerals start in Givat Shaul; Defense minister speaks at ceremony for fallen soldiers; Netanyahu blames PA incitement for terror attack.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ehud Barak 521 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Ehud Barak 521
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
The terrorist attack that left five family members dead in the settlement of Itamar over the weekend is a "painful reminder of the unbearable bloody price that we must pay in the struggle for sovereignty and rebirth of Israel in its land," Defense Minister Ehud Barak told mourners on Sunday.
Speaking at a ceremony at Mt. Herzl for fallen soldiers whose resting places are unknown, the defense minister said he is confident that the "iron fist of the IDF and the Shin Bet will quickly land on the murderers." They will be caught and brought to justice and made to pay, he added.
RELATED:Fogel family identified as victims of Itamar terror attack'Daughter yelled in horror, something terrible happened'IDF hunting for perpetrators of brutal Itamar killingsBarak said that "Israel's security, its future and its borders will be designed and shaped by our decisions and not by murderous terrorism." He continued, "Our hearts are with the orphans without a mother or father, and with all of the families."
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the cabinet on Sunday that when he spoke with surviving members of the Fogel family, who were murdered overnight Friday in the settlement of Itamar, that he heard the children crying.
"Last night I spoke with Chaim Fogel and with Rabbi Yehuda Ben-Yishai, the fathers of Udi and Ruthie Fogel, respectively, may their memories be blessed. I came to console them and I heard the crying of their young grandchildren who survived."
Netanyahu added, "Mr. Prime Minister, may God give you the strength, understanding, wisdom and bravery to defend the Israeli people, all of Israel's citizens, at this time."
The prime minister also criticized the Palestinian Authority for what he called its incitement to terrorism. "Regrettably, we see the PA awarding scholarships to the families of murderers. We see that they name squares after terrorists who murdered dozens of Israelis. These do not jibe with education for peace."