JUST ANOTHER WEDNESDAY IN ISRAEL

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and GOC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Sammy Turgeman in the Negev city, which has been hit repeatedly by Grad Katyusha missile fire from Gaza. “We have decided to further increase the assault on Hamas and the terrorist organizations in Gaza,” Netanyahu said. “The IDF is prepared for all possibilities. Hamas will pay a heavy price for firing at Israel’s citizens. “The security of Israel’s citizens is our primary consideration. Our military is strong, the home front is steadfast and our people are united. This combination is our response to the terrorist organizations that want to attack us. “We are all united in the mission to strike at the terrorist organizations and restore quiet. The operation will be expanded and will continue until the firing at our communities stops and quiet is restored. I ask that the public continue to listen to the instructions from IDF Home Front Command – they save lives. On behalf of Israel’s citizens, I thank all IDF soldiers and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) intelligence personnel who are participating in the measures, known as the Naftali Fraenkel Reward Bill, were introduced on Wednesday, July 9. Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon called Wednesday on the government to halt supplies of gas and electricity to the Gaza Strip as long as rocket fire continues to hold Israeli civilians hostage. While Hamas and their allied terrorists continue to launch rockets and missiles at Israeli civilians, shipments to their civilian families are continuing unabated. Some 200 trucks of foodstuffs and other basics goods and products have traveled through the Kerem Shalom crossing since the start of Operation Protective Edge, officials report. The Israeli government has been adamant — as it was during past conflicts — to differentiate between terrorists and civilians who reside in the Gaza region. Israel does its best not to punish Gaza civilians for the attacks perpetrated by the terrorists in their midst. PHOTO of the then Captain Benjamin Netanyahu when he served in the IDF/SAYERET MATKAL