Eliezer regrets Gaza pullout (so do citizens of Sderot)

Benjamin Ben-Eliezer with Ariel Sharon [in healthier days]

Ben Eliezer: 'The disengagement from Gaza was a big mistake'

"I admit and confess," Ben Eliezer said, "I was with those who strongly supported [former prime minister] Ariel Sharon, and today I say: We erred, we made a very big mistake."

According to Ben Eliezer, a move such as the Gaza pullout can only be successful when the territory one leaves is "handed over to responsible hands and anchored in agreements and international guarantees. Here we have a precedent - a territory we left turns into a base for terror - period."

Regarding the ongoing Kassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, Ben Eliezer said there is no escaping the need to act and to respond to the barrages. When asked about potential harm to Palestinian[s] from an Israeli military response, the Infrastructure Minister said attempts to prevent harm to civilians are futile in light of the current situation.

"Israel must respond, what else?"

[Jerusalem Post]