National Security Minister Ben Gabir and Prime Minister Netanyahu clashed after the cabinet meeting over the demand to demolish a 14-story building in East Jerusalem. Netanyahu replied that he was afraid because the move might provoke international criticism of Israel. Minister Ben Gabir attacked in response: “I am tired of containing the containment policy “
At the end of the cabinet meeting held on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gabir clashed after the latter demanded, as a response to the attack, to demolish an illegal 14-story building in East Jerusalem. Netanyahu replied that this could provoke international criticism. Ben Gvir attacked in response: “I’m tired of containing the inclusion policy.” This was reported in Vint.
The 14-story building is located In the Savachara neighborhood in East Jerusalem, adjacent to the separation fence. Ben Gvir presented Netanyahu with a demolition order for the building and in addition presented reports from security sources according to which the building is a security hazard that threatens the security forces. The building is uninhabited, and the minister proposed to blow it up in a controlled explosion using the Yalam unit of the combat engineering.
One of the prime minister’s close associates said in a conversation between Netanyahu and Gabir after the cabinet meeting on Sunday that the demolition of the building in Sawahara could cause unrest in the east of the city. “In the eyes of the Arabs, this will be perceived as an event in the style of the ‘Da’ahiya’ bombing in Beirut,” said an associate of Netanyahu. Ben Gvir responded that “the time has come for the world to understand that children were murdered here. A sovereign country enforces the building laws in the territory of its capital.”
Netanyahu later explained that political considerations prevent the destruction of the building and Ben Gvir attacked: “What political considerations. Our children are being murdered. The world will actually understand that children were murdered and a sovereign country enforces the law in its capital. Our children were murdered, there is no reason why we should not respond.”
Ben Gvir added in high tones: “Children are being murdered here and you are talking about upsetting Arabs? This building is a security risk. They go up there on the roof and throw stones at our soldiers. They hide cameras. It is a serious security hazard that affects the entire area. We have a security obligation to destroy it “.