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Feb. 22, 2004
Mofaz: Fence is potent deterrent to attacks
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Despite Sunday’s suicide attack in Jerusalem, the West Bank security fence is still a potent deterrent to suicide bombings, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said.
"We did not succeed this morning but lately we have had several successful cases where we thwarted suicide attacks and there is no doubt that the fence has proven itself as a successful tool against suicide bombers," Mofaz said.
The defense minister estimated that the reason for Sunday’s attack was "in order to show that the fence is not effective against suicide bombers."
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said at the cabinet meeting, in response to questions of the reason behind Sunday’s attack, "We don’t need to search for a reason why they kill Jews. They have been killing Jews for years and they won’t stop for one day."
Of the 934 Israelis killed since the begging of the Intifada, 584 were killed in suicide attacks.
Lapid: Fence would have prevented the attack
Justice Minister Yosef Lapid said in the cabinet meeting Sunday morning that "Palestinian terror — and not Israel — is put to trial at the International Court of Justice."
"The despicable attack in Jerusalem is the answer to the accusations against Israel about the security fence at the ICJ,‘ Lapid said. ’If the Jerusalem envelope [fence] were to be completed then the attack wouldn’t have happened."
"This attack proves again that Palestinian murderers are the aggressors, not Israel. This is an answer to all the charges being brought against Israel at the World Court," the minister added.
Health Minister Dani Naveh said that the ICJ judges need to look into the eyes of Israeli children.
"As we bury our children today and they begin the process in the Hague the judges should look in our children’s eyes and ask themselves if they wouldn’t do the same [regarding the fence]," Naveh said.
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