Senior Israeli minister threatens major West Bank crackdown

Israeli officials close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened the army could launch "another Defensive Shield" in the West Bank, referring to the occupation army's massive crackdown in 2002 in response to the Second Intifada.

The Times of Israel quoted Israeli Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud), who is acting as prime minister while Netanyahu is away, as saying that a large operation could be in the offing and also threatened a closure on Arab neighborhoods in Al Quds.

Speaking to occupation "Army Radio" Sunday morning, Katz said that "we may need to launch Defensive Shield 2."

In March 2002, Israel launched a raid on several West Bank cities to squelch Palestinian Second Intifada in the West Bank.

Nearly 500 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more arrested during the operation, which also left 29 Israeli soldiers dead.

"We can impose a closure on the Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem and stop the privileges of freedom of movement to work — these are steps that if faced with security challenges we will be forced to used them," said Katz. "So in Issawiya they will be closed off inside the neighborhood and not work in the most attractive jobs."

"Will there be an Operation Defensive Shield 2? Maybe," he added.

Source: MENA