After a series of fatal terror attacks in Israel, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday called on licensed Israeli gun owners to arm themselves in public, whilst Defence Minister Benny Gantz has said calling up reservists is being considered.

“Citizens of Israel, we are currently experiencing a wave of murderous terrorism,” Bennett said in a video statement. “What is expected of you, citizens of Israel? Alertness and responsibility. Open your eyes. Whoever has a license to carry a weapon, this is the time to carry it,” he said.

On Tuesday, a Palestinian terrorist killed five people in Bnei Brak. Earlier attacks in Hadera, on Sunday, and Beersheba, last Tuesday, killed six Israelis. And on Thursday a Palestinian terrorist seriously stabbed another passenger on a bus near Jerusalem.

The spate of violence marked Israel’s highest toll in terror attacks in such a short time since 2006.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, “If necessary, we will recruit thousands of reservists who will flood the streets and operate wherever operational activity is required,” Gantz added. Israel rarely calls up reservists, except for training purposes.

“Whatever it takes, we will break this wave of terror. We will bring back peace and stability in a forceful, smart and responsible manner,” he said.

Bennett outlined a serious of security measures including the reinforcement of police by the IDF with 14 battalions and 15 special forces being assigned.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday, the IDF said it had arrested a total of 31 terrorist suspects overnight, including a suspected ISIS operative.

Bennett urged the Israeli public to remain strong in face of the deadliest terror wave to hit the country since the Second Intifada.

“Citizens of Israel, we are currently experiencing a wave of murderous terrorism and, just like in all the previous waves, we will prevail, together,” he said.

“This is neither our first nor our second wave of terrorism. We have experience with struggle. Israeli society, when it is tested, knows how to show composure, remain resilient, and rise to the occasion. We cannot be broken.”

The string of deadly attacks has underlined concerns about escalating violence during Ramadan. Ramadan can draw tens of thousands of Muslim worshipers to prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, creating a potentially volatile situation. And no announcements have been made regarding security over Passover, which begins 15 April.

Related Articles:

Britain must not let Israel stand alone

“Cyrus freed the Jews, and today the Jewish state might free the Persians,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu this week, adding, “Not in the sense that we’re doing it for them… In the end,...

When Israel defends itself, the world cries foul

Israel has carried out extensive strikes again the Iranian regime. A terror funding, antisemitic, genocidal regime that seeks to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Despite this,...

Gaza aid hypocrisy: Israel feeds. Hamas kills. The world distorts.

Over the past few weeks the world has erupted in outrage over false claims made about Israel, not over the crimes of Hamas, but over the claims of Hamas. Every time the...

“We should thank Israel for defending us all,” says British colonel

Israel is fighting to defend the Western world, according to Colonel Richard Kemp, who says that millions of lives may have been saved by Israel's actions today. The former commander of the British...

“The people shall rise up as a great lion” – Netanyahu’s Western Wall note placed only hours before strikes on Iran

When Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the Western Wall on Thursday, few would have recognised that it was a foreshadow of what was about to happen a few hours later. Thursday was the official...

Subscribe to start receiving FREE TORCH magazines from CUFI UK