LIVE UPDATES: Cabinet moves to worsen Hamas prisoners' conditions

Security cabinet met to discuss ongoing West Bank operation; MK Haneen Zoabi:
Kidnappers are not terrorists.
By Haaretz | Jun. 17, 2014 | 5:09 PM | 2

Israeli soldiers walk in lines during an operation in the West Bank town of Hebron on
June 17, 2014.Photo by AFP



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The mothers of the kidnapped teens, in Nof Ayalon, June 17, 2014. Photo by Tomer
Appelbaum

Weapons confiscated by Israeli army soldiers in raids in West Bank Photo by IDF
Spokesperson's Unit
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Israel's security cabinet met Tuesday morning to discuss the kidnappingof three
Israeli teens and the military operation that has since been launched
against Hamas in the West Bank.
Before the meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the families of
the kidnapped teens, who assembled at the family home of abducted teen Naftali
Frenkel, in Nof Ayalon.
"We are doing everything to find Eyal [Yifrah], Gil-Ad [Shaer], and Naftali,"
Netanyahu told the teenagers' parents. "In the field, we are exerting an enormous
operational and intelligence effort to that end."
"In the name of Israel's citizens," Netanyahu said, "I'd like to strengthen your
resolve."
Overnight Monday, the Israeli army conducted a large-scale operation in the West
Bank, arresting 41 Palestinians. Approximately half of the arrests were conducted in
the Nablus region, 78 kilometers north of Hebron, where the operation has been
focused until now.
Meanwhile, the Israel Air Force struck four sites throughout the Gaza Strip in
response to rocketfire. There were no reports of casualties.
Click here for Monday's live blog
Latest updates:
4:45 P.M. Police chief Yohanan Danino will establish Tuesday evening or Wednesday
morning a committee to probe the failure of the Judea and Samaria police emergency
line in dealing with a phone call from one the kidnapped teens, minutes after the
three were abducted.
Until now, top police officers and the public security minister said an investigation of
the failure will only start after the operation to recover the teens is over. But as the
operation entered its fifth day, and facing public criticism, Danino decided to appoint
the committee now. (Amir Oren)
4:15 P.M. A high-ranking military officer tells reporters the pressure on the West
Bank will continue and will even intensify. According to him, protest was heard on the
Palestinian side against the kidnapping, which occurred two weeks before the month
of Ramadan. "I think Ramadan will be spoiled for them. Even now they're feeling the
steps and are complaining about the road closures. They know that if today it takes
40 minutes to get from Nablus to Jenin, next week it might take seven hours," he
said.
"This incident will have long-term repercussions. The Palestinians understand that
this type of incident develops in a manner known in advance, and that the army goes
all in in such cases," he said. Concerning actions against Hamas, the officer said the
operation targets "everything green."
"They're cleansing the stables in all ranks in the Hamas," he said. According to him,
the IDF will present the cabinet with the possibility of expelling Hamas top
members.
According to him, at this stage there is no way to know whether the kidnapping was
perpetrated by a local cell, or if it was directed by an outsider. Since the military
operation began about 200 Palestinians were arrested, over 80% of which are Hamas
members. According to the officer, the cooperation with the Palestinian security
forces is very businesslike. He also stressed that the IDF's working premise is that
the three teens are alive.
He also said that the security establishment is also looking south, in case an attempt
will be made to escalate the situation along the Gaza border. (Jack Khoury)

2:50 P.M. At the end of the three-hour security cabinet meeting Tuesday, the
Israeli ministers decidedto increase the military pressure on Hamas and to worsen
the conditions of Hamas members held in Israeli prisons.
A senior Israeli official told Haaretz that the mission of utmost importance right
now was to return the abducted teens and increase the pressure on Hamas.
"The public security minister was authorized to worsen the conditions of Hamas
members held in Israeli prisons," the senior official said. "An additional cabinet
meeting will be held in coming days to discuss further steps against Hamas."
The senior official noted that alongside military pressure on Hamas expressed, for
instance, by stepping up the arrests of movement members and thereby hampering
Hamas' civilian infrastructure Israel will also make a diplomatic effort to
delegitimize the alliance between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
According to the official, Israel will stress the need to put an end to incitement
against Israel on official Palestinian media and in the Authority's education system,
where support for the abduction of Israelis is voiced.
"We consider the Palestinian Authority as responsible for any terrorist attack
originating in its territory," the senior official said. "We're preparing for a long-term
operation and patience is required. The prime minister will continue to consult with
the security establishment all day." (Barak Ravid)
Back to latest update
2:30 P.M. Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Eli Ben-Dahan called on Israel to
increase the severity of actions taken against terrorists, and put a price tag on the
actions of Hamas. Ben-Dahan added that the cabinet should approve actions that
would make the lives of the terrorist's families miserable as a method to pressure
the terrorists. (Jonathan Lis)
2:20 P.M. "I condemn the kidnapping of the three young Israelis Eyal Yifrah,
Naftali Frenkel, and Gil-Ad Shaer," says French Ambassador to Israel Patrick
Maisonnave, "and would like to express, on behalf of my government, my deepest
sympathy and most profound solidarity with the young men and their families. France
demands the immediate liberation and the arrest and trial of those responsible for
this cowardly and unacceptable act." (Haaretz)
2:00 P.M. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton issues a statement
concerning the kidnapping: "We condemn in the strongest terms the abduction of
three Israeli students in the West Bank and call for their immediate release and safe
return to their families. Such acts can only undermine international efforts to
encourage a resumption of peace negotiations. The EU encourages continued close
cooperation between the Israeli and Palestinian security services to ensure the swift
release of the abductees." (Barak Ravid)
1:20 P.M. The families of the kidnapped teenagers say, in a statement to the press,
"We are praying that all the soldiers and our children return home unharmed and we
are grateful for all those who are involved [in the search operation]. We feel the
enormous hug from all the people of Israel and it constantly accompanies us. We ask
that people continue praying and doing all the good works that they have been doing
for the past few days. We just want to hug our children." (Ilan Lior)
Back to latest update
12:00 P.M. Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat says she intends to contact the
attorney general and ask him to look into whether MK Zoabi's comments constitute a
violation of Israeli law against hate speech and incitement to violence. Also, to see if
her parliamentary immunity can be revoked so as to bring her up on charges.
(Jonathan Lis)
11:30 A.M. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman responds to MK Zoabi's remarks,
saying, "Not only are the kidnappers terrorists, Zoabi herself is a terrorist, too." The
foreign minister adds: "The destiny of the terrorist and that of the inciter of
kidnappings, Zoabi, should be identical." (Jonathan Lis)
11:00 A.M. MK Haneen Zoabi (Balad) tells Tel Aviv Radio she doesn't believe the
kidnappers of the Israeli teens are terrorists. "They aren't terrorists, even if I
don't agree with them. They are people that cannot see any way to change their
reality, and they are forced to use these means until Israeli society wises up a bit
and sees and feels the suffering of the other." (Haaretz)
10:30 A.M. Israeli cabinet commences meeting on kidnapping, military operation.
(Barak Ravid)
10:20 A.M. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells families of abducted teens
Israel is doing all it can to rescue them. (Barak Ravid)
2:15 A.M. The Israeli Air Force attacked what it described as a "terrorism center"
and an arms depot in the southern Gaza Strip early Tuesday morning, the IDF
spokesman announces. Also hit were a weapons depot in the center of Gaza and an
arms manufacturing facility in the north of the strip, the spokesman says. The strike
was in retaliation for the firing of a rocket into Israel on Monday night. The rocket
landed in an open field and no injuries were reported. (Haaretz)
Click here for Monday's live updates.
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