Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Can Israel, Hamas reach a truce?

Details

  • Description

    Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat describes tense situation

  • Duration 6:07
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

America Live

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Aside earlier today Jerusalem came under fire.

At fifty miles from Gaza the capital was long considered out of rocket range -- Hamas now has more sophisticated weapons thanks to Iran.

Secretary of state Hillary Clinton expected in Jerusalem later this evening to meet with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Joining us live now from Tel Aviv is the mayor of Jerusalem near our -- mr.

mayor thank you very much for being here with us.

Your thoughts on whether we will see a cease fire today.

We'll talk to tell because.

Unfortunately that Hamas wants to destruct Israel their charters to destroy Israel.

And then use every opportunity.

To fire indiscriminately.

And the only way to stop them is by targeting the militants.

Not not to the residents of Gaza.

But the minute -- of Gaza and the deal I'm sure the prime minister.

Will seek a deal where it's very very clear that we can control the militants.

And decrease their motivation I'm not sure they're ready for it and I trust my the government.

That indeed it will make sure that the militants in spite of the fact they want to destroy us in spite of the fact that there's no stopping mechanism and they will use every opportunity.

Two.

And not -- it can't maintain a deal.

We have to make sure that the motivation is low hopefully it's tonight if not whatever time it takes Israel's behind our prime minister.

It's extraordinary folks here anywhere used to -- hearing about rockets raining on Israel but.

But rockets raining and Jerusalem is not a normal occurrence and it's happened twice now since this conflict began last week a city of about 800000.

Described.

Described how that takes this to add another level.

First austerity are crazy this can be they're targeting bad indiscriminately.

The -- in this limited Jerusalem god forbid.

You know what happens that the rocket like this falls and one of the holy places for the Christians.

For the Muslims for the Jews it's totally -- responsible and it shows how much they care about nothing but there's really nothing.

In Jerusalem like any other city in the country we -- prepared for such a scenario.

The people are well.

Educated and understand what we need to do when the sirens go off.

We know how to deal with situation and we are right now no cancellation and any of the events we're living our normal life.

But very alerts to anything that can happen in the city.

While.

Beaten talk about the the response from Hamas and sort of -- because there's -- ground war I mean the you know the air war but then there's the rhetoric and the and the war of words.

From both sides and Hamas.

Has been pointing out that they've suffered far more casualties.

Far more wounded.

They see at least 54 civilians have been killed 225 children have been wounded.

And they.

And apparently now Egypt's view Israel as the aggressor and as as the terrorists.

Your response.

Well.

Fighting is shooting rockets indiscriminately.

Is against any law any international law.

And thank god.

We have the best defense mechanism.

Against rockets firing at us god forbid you know would've happened if we did not have that the defense mechanism that then of course the casualty numbers and Israel will be great.

But I thought we not a defense these defendants they'll be used great technology that it Israel's so powerful in.

-- -- -- -- making a better world we also know how to defend ourselves very well that's why the casualty numbers in Israel are much lower than people expect -- thank god and this is the way it should be.

On the other hand.

Unlike -- our enemies unlike that Hamas what are not using indiscriminate.

Fire.

The art technology knows that the target the -- things that you could see that every time we pulled the trigger.

It's against militants -- against ammunition it's a huge difference in values in the way we think in the way we operate.

And I'm very proud on what we're doing and you'll see the percentage of the militants killed.

On the other side is extremely high and unfortunately.

Sometimes that civilians also gets hurt you should know that they're targeting civilians and they're hiding behind their own children.

Which makes.

Unfortunately.

Some of their casualties though we're very very much not interest that in.

You talk about how the folks in Jerusalem are going about living -- in their daily lives and -- eyes as.

As a new Yorker -- We in new York -- relate to having been you know the target of -- terrorist attack but it and it's and it can be hard to go around and and not worry about your security in the wake of the terrorist attack and certainly as the rockets are still raining down upon you.

Do you sense an increase in anxiety among that the folks in your city.

One of the most powerful things that then you'll probably see -- the residents of Jerusalem like practically all the rest of the country.

Is the understanding.

That one of the goals the terrorists have is to destruct our life.

And so the counter to that is to maintain.

As much as -- -- normal life.

We're playing soccer we have our events we didn't cancel anything.

And when there's an alarm.

We use though those few minutes to defend ourselves.

And as -- president's we're going back to our normal life this is one of -- that psychological.

Ways that Israel's -- the Hamas and our enemies it's not gonna help you -- -- live here.

Continue our lives and that thank god the residents of Jerusalem and the residents of the south and the rest of Israel.

-- united behind this strategy.

We -- here forever.

You've you've -- better better make -- you better know that you can't get rid of us and didn't get -- -- -- chartered the charter will never work.

You live in a tough neighborhood and -- a tough people mr.

mayor thank you very much for being here.

And I want to thank the US today for its health.

Helping us defend ourselves.

I think it Israelis a very gratified.

Really want to help and thank.

-- -- US administration and the newest people.

For such a support they're giving us thank you all of -- I'll.

Load More