MK: Netanyahu government failing to protect settlements on Gaza periphery

Yesh Atid Knesset member Haim Yellin, former head of Eshkol Settlement Council, criticized on Monday the way the Israeli government deals with the settlements in the Gaza periphery, Safa news agency reported.

Safa quoted Yellin’s remarks given to the Israeli newspaper Maariv. “[The Israeli government] gave up the settlements in the periphery of the Gaza Strip and left them facing their fate alone,” he said.

Yellin added: “PM Benjamin Netanyahu broke his promise as he said he would set up a new fence around their neighbourhoods at the end of 2014 offensive.”

He said that the new fence should have been set up immediately after the end of the latest Israeli offensive on Gaza in order to “prevent kidnappings and digging tunnels”. He noted that would reinforce security and provide psychological assurance to the settlers.

“After the war had ended, we met with the government and Netanyahu pledged not to let Hamas rebuild its power,” he said. “He said that we will see the bulldozers start working in the fence within days.” One and half years later there is nothing, Yellin said.