Elected officials from across the political spectrum denounced the deadly ISIS terrorist attack that struck the heart of the central city of Hadera on Sunday night, leaving Border Police officers Yezen Falah and Shirel Abukarat dead and four other officers wounded.
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"Two ISIS terrorist attacks in Israel require security forces to quickly adapt to this new threat and we will. I urge the public to maintain vigilance. Together, we will defeat this threat," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement posted on social media.
"Our heart breaks over the death of Border Police officers Yezen Falah and Shirel Abukarat, who gave their lives defending civilians from heinous murderers. We will never forget their bravery. I send their families my deepest condolences and wish the wounded a speedy recovery."
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the terrorist attack was "an attempt by extremists to unravel our fabric of life. Israel will fight terrorism with determination and we will stand steadfast with our allies against anyone who tries to harm us," he continued, also sending condolences to the officers' families.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, "The IDF and all other security forces are on alert with all of the measures necessary to restore calm and ensure the public security on all fronts. We will act aggressively against terrorism and terrorists, and we will advance the continued reinforcement of troops in the field."
Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted, "A terrible terrorist attack tonight [Sunday]. I send my condolences to the victims' families and pray for the wounded's recovery. Terrorism is rearing its head and a firm hand is needed to restore public security."
Labor leader Merav Michaeli tweeted, "This is a difficult painful night. We will continue to fight terrorism with determination. The start contrast between this horrific event and the Negev summit reminds us again that peace and normalcy are not without their enemies. We cannot let them win."
Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich tweeted, "If this reminds you of the early days of Oslo in the 1990s you're not wrong. We get photos of smiling leaders, detached from reality, in [peace] summits, alongside images of the 'victims of peace' in Israeli cities," he wrote, juxtaposing the Negev summit that convened Sunday with the early days of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, said, "Jewish blood is not expendable! One terrorist attack after another and the heart can no longer take the sorrow and destruction.
"We have warned time and again that a government that is dependent on an Islamist party will end up undermining national security and this is what's happening," he said, alluding to coalition partner Ra'am.
Likud MK Nir Barkat called the attack "horrific" and urged Israeli who are licensed to carry personal firearms "to engage and eliminate any terrorist. The police cannot fact all these treats by themselves so civilians must shoulder the burden of defense."
Shas MK Yoav Ben-Zur said, "One terrorist attack after another – Israel is in the midst of a terrible intifada. I support security forces who are fighting this murderous terrorism, send my condolences to the victims' families and pray for the wounded's recovery."
Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas said he "denounces the heinous crime in Hadera. This is an appalling act of ISIS terror that does not represent Arab society in Israel. We seek to live under the rule of law and support values that sanctify human life, Jewish and Arab coexistence, peace, and tolerance."
Joint Arab List leader Ayman Odeh also condemned the attack, calling it "a shocking crime. There isn't and cannot be any justification for harming civilians. Such acts have nothing to do with the political struggle the Arab public is waging for its rights. This is not our way, nor will it ever be.
"The Arab public wants nothing to do with ISIS and its radical doctrine, which it has denounced for years. We believe in a nonviolent struggle. In this difficult time, we urge the public, Arabs and Jews alike, to act responsibly."
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Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office issued instructions to ministers on how to discuss the terrorist attack in the media.
Alongside stressing the Border Police officers' courage under fire and their sacrifice in protecting civilians at the scene, ministers were told to underscore Israel's war on terror and the fact that "security forces will hunt down anyone trying to undermine Israel's security."
Another key point in the Prime Minister's Office's instructions was that the lawmakers should refrain from pointing a finger at the Palestinian Authority or Hamas.
A source privy to the full instruction said that most likely, this seeks to avoid aggravating tensions vis-à-vis Hamas, which could escalate into a wider conflict.
Ministers were also told not to link the terrorist attack to any gestures afforded to the Palestinians over the holy month of Ramada.
