Following Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu's (Otzma Yehudit) statement that an atomic bomb on Gaza is "one way," Saudi Arabia sent a message to Israel on Sunday that it must fire him immediately. Earlier, tempers were also high in the political system following the minister's remarks.
During the morning, the minister was interviewed by Kol Barama Radio, in which he was asked whether an atomic bomb should be dropped on the Gaza Strip, a step that would mean the destruction of the entire region, harm to abductees held by terrorist organizations, and collateral damage of dozens of kilometers in the south of the State of Israel, due to nuclear fallout. Eliyahu replied that "this is one way," and later was asked if the issue of the abductees should be taken into account, and he replied: "In war, you pay a price."
Minister Amichai Eliyahu in an interview with Kol Barama Radio: "An atom on Gaza is one way" // Courtesy of Kol Barama Radio
IDF disperses leaflets throughout Gaza: "Evacuate to humanitarian zone in southern Gaza" // Photo: IDF Spokesperson
Following that controversial interview, the Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, "The kingdom condemns in the strongest possible terms the extreme statements made by the minister in the Israeli occupation government regarding the dropping of a nuclear bomb on the besieged Gaza Strip. These statements reflect the infiltration of extremism and cruelty among members of the Israeli government."
Subsequently, it was emphasized that "the failure to dismiss the minister from the government immediately is the height of ignoring all human, moral, religious and legal criteria and values in the Israeli government."
The scene of an attack in the Gaza Strip, photo: AP
It is clear to any reasonable person that the statement about an atom is metaphorical. But we certainly need a powerful and disproportionate response to terrorism that makes it clear to the Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is not worthwhile. This is the only formula that democratic countries can use to deal with terrorism. At the same time, it is clear that the State of Israel is obligated to do everything possible to return the abductees...
— 🇮🇱Amichay Eliyahu (@Eliyahu_a) November 5, 2023
As noted, in recent months much has been said about the rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia mediated by the United States and about the possibility of normalization between the countries. During the war, it was reported that Saudi Arabia assisted in intercepting Houthi militia launches in Yemen towards Israel.
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