Israel Closer Than Ever to Controlling Part or All of Gaza, Strategic Affairs Minister Says

Gilad Erdan also says he will ask U.S. lawmakers to use anti-boycott laws against Airbnb following its decision to bar listings in Jewish settlements

By Noa Landau, JPOST

Israel is “closer than ever” to controlling part or all of Gaza, Strategic Affair minister Gilad Erdan said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Jerusalem Post Diplomats’ Conference in Jerusalem, Erdan said that “moving from defense to offense against Hamas means targeted assassinations of terror leaders in Hamas’ military wing.”

This, Erdan says, “means being ready to take control of the Gaza Strip and hold it until we dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, Today we are closer than ever – since the devastating disengagement plan – to having to control parts of the Strip, or all of it.”

Erdan also addressed Airbnb’s recent decision to bar listings of homes in West Bank settlements, saying “anybody who supports Israel should stop using Airbnb and tap other services.”

The company’s decision, Erdan said Tuesday, is based on UN Security Council Resolution 2334 passed during the term of Barack Obama as U.S. president, calling for distinction between Israel and Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights; and an international blacklist of companies operating beyond the Green Line, which was compiled and managed  by the UN Human Rights Council.

>> Why Airbnb will have a hard time enforcing its Israeli settlement ban | Analysis

The decision Obama spearheaded at the UN Security Council helped legitimize the Human Rights Council’s decision to compile this international blacklist, Erdan said.

The policy of distinguishing between Israel and the West Bank is discriminatory and achieves an opposite, and dangerous, effect, the minister said.

“The purpose of the policy is to undermine the very activity that could be a basis for sustainable peace. If the Human Rights Council does publish the blacklist of companies doing business beyond the Green Line, the U.S. and other democracies should react by halting all funding for the UN until it ceases its anti-Israel position,” Erdan said.

On Airbnb’s decision specifically, Erdan said that given the company’s decision to capitulate to the pressure of the Human Rights Council and BDS, Israel is considering its moves.

“On the one hand we will try to explain to the company why the decision is wrong and harmful,” Erdan said. “I, parallel, we will examine other forms of action. I mean to ask senior Americans to consider using the existing laws against discrimination and boycotts. The states and their employees should not be doing business with companies that discriminate against Israel. We will also study whether this is discrimination based on nationality, which is prohibited under the law in France and elsewhere. Under Israeli law, Israelis could consider suing against the decision.”