The Israeli military chief said Tuesday that new Palestinian violence could erupt if peace talks collapse. The Palestinians are threatening to quit the talks unless a 10-month restriction on settlement construction is extended beyond its planned expiration on Sunday.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday warned the Hamas against a new round of violence. Speaking in southern Israel, the Israeli leader said Israel would continue to respond swiftly. "I don't recommend they test our determination in this matter," he said.
Earlier, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, the country's top soldier, told lawmakers that the military was bracing for possible mass protests and clashes. He added, however, that the low expectations for a peace deal could mean any violence would be less intense than the Palestinian uprising that erupted in 2000. "We must be prepared for every possibility," he said, according to the AP. "If talks fail, there could be riots."
