Members of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee toured Judea and Samaria on Sunday in wake of the recent spate of deadly terrorist attacks in the area and met with the heads of the local Jewish communities.
During the meeting, Opposition Leader Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union) clashed with the settler's leaders, saying, "I've been hearing everything you have been saying over the past few days and frankly, there's a point where you lose me.
"We're all feeling the same pain. We all back the IDF in its mission to secure every citizen in Judea and Samaria, and to do what is needed. Don't confuse security with ideology, don't argue that your ideology is related to security," she said.
"You want to prevent us from ever separating from the Palestinians. I'll continue to act so that eventually, we can separate from them. Hamas doesn't accept your existence here; it doesn't accept the existence of Tel Aviv – but don't use security to advance your ideology.
"We'll continue to provide security for the residents here. The argument about what should be done to separate or annex [Judea and Samaria] must be conducted separately, not while terrorist attacks are raging," she said.
Livni's remarks infuriated many of the mayors present, prompting Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan to interrupt her, saying, "Why do you hate us? What have we ever done to you? In no other situation would you say such things."
Livni responded, "I share your pain. When you feel for the residents here I feel for every Israeli. We're all in the exact same place but this is not where this debate should be held."
Likud MK Yoav Kisch also criticized Livni, saying, "You should apologize, not reiterate your remarks. You're not one to tell these mayors what they can speak about."
Likud MK Oren Hazan joined the fray, blasting the opposition leader for "trading in the Jewish blood spilled here to promote your own ideology."
Hananel Dorani, head of the Yesha Council, the umbrella organization of municipal councils of Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, demanded the committee revisit the issue of imposing travel restriction on Palestinians using Judea and Samaria roads.
He further urged a harsher response to terrorism, especially with respect to razing terrorists' homes, which he said should apply to their extended family, as well.
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Avi Dichter, formerly head of the Shin Bet security agency, said, "As someone who has 47 years of experience fighting terrorism, I feel I have to make something clear: terrorism is not a bottomless pit. During the Second Intifada [in the early 2000s] we were told that we can't defeat terrorism, but the IDF, Shin Bet, police and the residents proved that we can defeat terrorism."
Zionist Union MK Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin later said, "I was sorry to learn of the argument between Livni and Dagan. Unfortunately, some MKs there agitated the atmosphere and undermined the important discussion committee members had with the council heads."
