Former Foreign Minister and current Zionist Union Co-chairwoman Tzipi Livni has awakened controversy by her remarks differentiating between the terrorist bombings in Brussels and the wave of terrorism Israel has been experiencing for the past six months.
Speaking to Army Radio on Thursday, Livni said that "Islamic State terrorism in Europe is a religious war, whereas the stabbing intifada here [in Israel] is the result of nationalist aspirations."
In the interview, Livni attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that "the world does accept the prime minister's theory that there is no difference between the terrorism striking Europe and terrorism in Israel."
"Instead of drawing a distinction between the two, he links the Arabs here who take a knife and want to kill Jews to extremist Islamic organizations like the Islamic State. In effect, the prime minister is leading us toward a religious war [in Israel] because he isn't differentiating between extremists and the terrorism that happens here," Livni said.
Immigrant Absorption Minister Zeev Elkin said in response to Livni's comments that he regretted that "Tzipi Livni still hasn't realized that young people who [have been exposed to] incitement take knives and go out to murder Jews just because they're Jews. They don't separate incitement radical Islamist incitement in a mosque from incitement by [Palestinian] leaders in Ramallah, they just learn to hate all Jews."
Likud MK Miki Zohar also responded to Livni's statements: "I'm sorry to hear that on the day we read the Book of Esther, about an attempt to annihilate the Jewish people, MK Livni chooses to identify with Haman and with the rest of the Jews' bitter enemies."
Zohar added that "terrorism is terrorism anywhere in the world, and Livni's attempt to justify Arab terrorism under the excuse of 'a national struggle' is nothing less than stupidity."
According to Zohar, "The Left's nonchalance puts us in danger, and our job in the nationalist camp is to make sure they stay sane and, of course, protect the security of Israeli citizens."
Right furious over distinction between terror in Europe, Israel
Zionist Union Co-chairwoman Tzipi Livni tells Army Radio that Islamic State terrorism in Europe is a "religious war," while terrorism in Israel is nationalist in nature • Likud MKs slam Livni: Nothing less than stupid, the Left's nonchalance endangers us.
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