PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Sunday, 17 August 2014), made the
following remarks at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting:

"We are in the midst of a combined military and diplomatic campaign. From the first day, the Israeli delegation to Cairo has worked under clear instructions: Insist on the security needs of the State of Israel. Only if there is a clear response to our security needs will we
agree to reach understandings. In the past month Hamas has taken a severe
military blow. We destroyed its network of tunnels that it took years to
dig. We intercepted the rockets that it had massed in order to carry out
thousands of deadly strikes against the Israeli home front. And we foiled
the terrorist attacks that it tried to perpetrate against Israeli
civilians – by land, sea and air.

If Hamas thinks that it can cover up its military loss with a diplomatic
achievement, it is mistaken. If Hamas thinks that continued sporadic firing
will cause us to make concessions, it is mistaken. As long as quiet is not
restored, Hamas will continue to take very harsh blows. If Hamas thinks that
we cannot stand up to it over time, it is mistaken.

In the stormy and unstable Middle East in which we live, it is not enough
that there be more strength, determination and patience are also necessary.
Hamas knows that we are very strong but maybe it thinks that we do not have
enough determination and patience, and here it is making a big mistake.


We are a strong and determined people. We have seen this in the amazing
revelations of strength and resilience in the past weeks on the part of both
our soldiers and our civilians. We will continue to be steadfast and united
until we achieve the goals of the campaign – the restoration of quiet and
security for all Israelis."