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Netanyahu: Palestinian population is held at gunpoint by Hamas
I think that Israel is doing the only reasonable thing that any democracy under a terrorist attack would do, and that is to try to pin point the terrorist and take action against them. Ultimately, as I say, to bring down that regime.
(Source: CNN News)
ROBERTS: So what happens if you do get rid of Hamas? Because everybody knows about the split between Fatah and Hamas, and there are many analysts who say that if you topple the Hamas government there would be chaos in Gaza because there would be -- nobody there to pick up the power vacuum.
NETANYAHU: It's pretty chaotic right now I'd say. I mean, they are holding their own people hostage. They are planting their rocket launchers and their rocket caches inside people's homes, in schools and universities precisely in order to use them as human shields. I think the Palestinian population is right now held at gunpoint by Hamas.Now, clearly, you know, Israel responds, it kills Hamas operatives, there are incidental civilian casualties which we regret, and we genuinely regret them, where as they celebrate every time they succeed to kill our civilians and our children.But, obviously, they can amass momentary support, but they don't really enjoy the support of the public. I think there are a lot of Palestinians in Gaza, who, if given a chance, who would opt as we've seen, the West Bank, would opt for a more moderate policy of reconciliation and co-existence with Israel, and we have to give them a chance. Because with Hamas, peace doesn't have a chance.
Click here for full CNN transcript of Netanyahu's interview with John Roberts,
