Israeli Prime Minsiter Benjamin Netanyahu called on Monday to expel any Palestinian citizen in Israel who is demonstrating against his government to the Palestinian Authority’s territories, a call also raised by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Arabs48 news website reported.
Speaking during a meeting for his Likud Party, Arabs48 quoted Netanyahu as saying that Israel is fighting “incitement led by the Palestinian Authority”.
“We will strictly deal with those who call for the destruction of Israel,” he warned. “I say to all those who demonstrate against Israel and in favour of a Palestinian state, a simple thing: I call on you to move to the Palestinian Authority or Gaza.”
Netanyahu stated that he has issued strict orders to deal with demonstrators. “I ordered the use of all means, including razing houses, utilising the strictest rules and drafting new rules,” he said.
He also called for Israelis to “unite” and refrain from making criticism or remarks that lead to divisions, a move that Arabs48 reported was likely in response to the second resignation his government has faced during a time when the prime minister is coming under increasing criticism.
Meanwhile, Lieberman repeated the call for revoking the citizenship of Palestinians living in the area known as the Triangle, northern cities in 1948 Palestine with an overwhelming majority of Arabs.
“The people in the Triangle must understand that if there is an agreement, they will not be citizens of the State of Israel,” the Times of Israel quoted him as saying.
Lieberman also criticised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for sending a letter of condolences to the family of the Palestinian who was killed by Israeli occupation forces two weeks ago. He called the letter an incitement to terrorism.
Meanwhile, Arabs48 reported that Netanyahu criticised Arab MK Hanin Zoabi, saying: “If she said that kidnapping three settlers was not a terrorist act and she is still out of prison, this encourages terrorism. She represents a terrorist organisation in the Knesset.”