Bennett: Egypt, PA encourage Israeli offensives in Gaza

Egypt and the Palestinian Authority (PA) encourage the continuation of the Israeli offensive on Gaza, Jordanian newspaper Al-Sabeel yesterday reported the Israeli Education Minister and head of Jewish Home Party Naftali Bennett saying.

Bennett was speaking to Israeli TV Channel 2, Al-Sabeel reported, describing his remarks as “surprising.”

He said that Israel has to change its way of dealing with the situation in Gaza, calling for an international initiative including rebuilding the Strip in return for stopping weapon-development for the Palestinian resistance.

The extremist minister said that the PA and Egypt are not interested in the Gaza Strip and both desire it to be under offensives all the time. They are also not interested if Israeli soldiers die there.

Bennett added that the choice to crackdown on Hamas in Gaza is not currently on the table and he objects to this insisting that it must remain on the agenda.

He added that a good solution for the Gaza Strip must be proposed and this could be through the reconstruction of civil facilities in the coastal enclave.

The minister said did not object to the idea of building a seaport in Gaza under international surveillance and said such a proposal would be discussed in the ministerial council.