PM: Israel is a strong country that is becoming stronger

"Yesterday was a sad day in Jerusalem. I would like to send condolences to the family of our friend, Levana Malihi," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday at a toast to the New Year with the employees of the Prime Minister's Office, referring to a terrorist shooting on Sunday that claimed the lives of Malihi, a former Knesset employee, and Border Policeman 1st Sgt. Yossi Kirma.

"I think that whoever was in the Knesset remembers her radiant smile, and we cry together with her family and with the family of the heroic policeman, Yossi Kirma, who pursued the terrorist and lost his life and without a doubt saved many lives. And of course we send our condolences to his fellow policeman, who is also a hero, and to all the other wounded. In this case, painful as it may be, there is no doubt that a terrible disaster was prevented by the quick, determined, and fearless action that was imbued with the fighting spirit of the Israel Police. I salute them, along with all the citizens of Israel," Netanyahu continued.

The prime minister said that the country was in the midst of the High Holidays, known as a time when "those who incite and fan the flames of terrorism" continually try to provoke violence and clashes.

"All citizens must be alert, certainly the security forces, who work day and night to protect us, and be a buffer and a wall between these murderers and the Israeli public. I salute the police personnel and soldiers, the men and women of the Shin Bet security agency, and all security services. We know that without their action, our reality would be different, and thanks to their action we succeed in safeguarding our security, our fabric of life, and our state," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister went on to say that the state of Israel was bringing about a "fundamental change in the status of the Jewish people, which had been a people without strength, without the ability to defend itself, to be strong in its homeland, which has gradually become an international force.

"This force is drawing other countries to us. It's not just military power, but our economic, technological and intelligence power. This is what the nations of the world greatly appreciate, and there is also an additional strength, and that is diplomatic strength. Hardly a day goes by in which heads of state and government and foreign ministers and senators and others do not come here. They come here and are drawn to the strength. The strength forces alliances and with strength one makes peace. The State of Israel is a very strong country that is becoming even stronger, and everything, in the end, leads here, to this office, that is to say, to you," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister thanked his staff for their part in his office's work and wished them an easy Yom Kippur fast. "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life," he told them.

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