Israel’s cabinet approved ‘strong measures’ against terrorism at its weekly meeting Sunday, just hours after the plans were approved in a late-night security cabinet meeting.
The decision comes in the wake of two major terror attacks this past week, each leaving at least one Israeli dead. Friday’s attack also left a wife and mother in critical condition, a daughter in fair condition and a son injured; the family of 10 children are now fatherless as well.
Among the measures were the denial of work permits for the residents of the Arab village of Bani Naim, home to the killer of 13-year-old Hallel Ariel of Kiryat Arba. It is also the village that has been home to six terrorists in recent months.
Two battalions and a paratroop unit were deployed over the weekend in the Hebron region, not far from Bani Naim. The troops are being used to secure Highway 60 and other roads in the area as well as to investigate the family members of the terrorist who murdered Ariel. Those who are found to be suspects will be arrested “in accordance with their level of involvement,” Netanyahu said.
In addition, the city of Hebron and surrounding Arab villages were to be cordoned off, with curfews in place and only humanitarian and medical cases allowed in and out.
Moreover, a tender for 42 new housing units previously frozen eight months prior was approved by the prime minister and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman. The construction project is to be located in the neighborhood near the home of the Ariel family, not far from the security fence that surrounds Kiryat Arba.