Netanyahu: ‘Aggressive measures' being used in Hebron

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that his government had taken “aggressive measures” in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron following the killing of two Israeli settlers, the Anadolu Agency reported.

“We are using various means, including aggressive measures that we have not used in the past. This includes cordoning off the entire Hebron district, 700,000 people; revoking work permits from Bani Naim, the village six terrorists have come from; a massive reinforcement of our units, two brigades with emphasis on securing the roads; automatically investigating all family members of murderers and terrorists and their arrest as per their involvement,” he said at the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Two Israeli settlers were killed in Hebron last week, including a girl in the illegal settlement of Kiryat Arba. The suspected Palestinian attacker was shot dead following the attack.

Following the attacks, the Israeli government decided to reduce the monthly tax transfers it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Israeli authorities also approved the construction of 42 new housing units in Kiryat Arba.

Netanyahu said his Cabinet would be considering new measures to “strengthen” Kiryat Arba and other Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.