Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman
The Israeli defense and education ministers exchanged blows on Tuesday over the government’s policy toward the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett described Avigdor Lieberman’s policy toward the Palestinian territory as “weak”, calling for adopting a “right-wing” iron policy in dealing with Palestinian group Hamas, which rules Gaza.
“His policy is weak and leftist,” Bennett, the leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party, told the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.
“Hamas is becoming increasingly rude and the time has come for a right-wing iron policy "he said.
Israel has denied reports about Norwegian mediation to reach a prisoner swap deal with Palestinian group Hamas, according to Israeli daily Yediot Aharonoth on Tuesday."The report that Norway is mediating the deal regarding the POWs and MIAs [missing in action] is incorrect," an Israeli source said.Lebanese daily al-Akhbar on Monday reported that Norway was mediating between Hamas and Israel to reach an agreement on the return of Israeli soldiers held captive in the Gaza Strip.The newspaper claimed that a Norwegian envoy had visited Gaza last month and received a “positive response” from Hamas.There was no comment from Hamas on the report.In April, the Ezzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, said it was holding four Israeli soldiers, without elaborating on their condition.UNRWA employees strike over downscaling plansUS enforces $38bln military aid package to help Israel fight ‘Iran-sponsored terrorists’Israel arrests 21 Palestinians in West Bank raids
Israel denies mediation on Hamas prisoner swap deal
Lieberman, for his part, denied the accusations, going on to accuse Bennett of telling lies.
“Bennett is completely lying,” he said. “I have always said that I do not believe in any arrangement with Hamas.”
“The minister of education does not speak a single word about education, and obviously, this does not interest him," Lieberman added.
Gaza has been reeling under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007 when Hamas seized control of the seaside enclave from rival group Fatah.
Israeli forces rounded up 21 Palestinians in overnight raids across the occupied West Bank, according to the Israeli military.The individuals were arrested for “suspected involvement in popular terrorist activities,” the army claimed in a Tuesday statement.The statement, however, did not elaborate as to the meaning of “popular terrorist activities”.Lebanon slams Israeli claims on missile sitesAccording to the statement, the detained individuals have since been remanded into custody for further investigation.Israel frequently conducts sweeping arrest campaigns across the occupied territories on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians.According to Palestinian figures, some 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in Israeli prisons, including scores of women, some 350 minors and at least six lawmakers.
Israel arrests 21 Palestinians in West Bank raids
Since March, more than 180 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more injured by Israeli army fire during anti-occupation protests along Gaza border.
Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.
They also demand an end to Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its two million inhabitants of basic commodities.