"I would like to begin by referring to events that occurred over the weekend in northern Samaria.  As you know, there was a terrorist attack at Yitzhar in which a terrorist infiltrated the community.  A young boy was wounded and there was an attempt to perpetrate a more serious attack.  This was a serious and harsh thing and our security forces are dealing with these issues and will reach those who were involved and will do what needs to be done, as they do so admirably throughout the year.  However, the residents of Yitzhar and nearby places responded by assaulting Arab residents in a nearby Palestinian village.  They used live weapons and wounded Palestinian residents even though there was no basis to assume, and no knowledge to the effect, that these residents were at all connected, whether directly or indirectly, to the terrorist attack in Yitzhar.  This phenomenon of taking the law into one's hands, of violent disturbances, of brutality by Jewish elements living in communities in Judea and Samaria, whether in recognized communities or in illegal outposts, is intolerable and will be dealt with sharply and harshly by the law enforcement authorities of the State of Israel.

There will be no pogroms against non-Jewish residents in the State of Israel.  We have law enforcement authorities.  We have police.  We have security services.  First and foremost, we have a military that knows how to deal with incidents in which Jews are attacked and to fight terrorists, and it will not lend a hand to those who take the law into their hands and attack innocents as was done over the weekend in the gravest manner.  There have been incidents in which this violence and this brutality have been directed against not only those whom the settlers suspect to be terrorists but also against Israeli soldiers and commanders.  An IDF company commander's hand was broken by settlers.  This is intolerable and I instruct the security elements in the territories to act strongly in order to prevent such events from recurring and to bring those responsible to justice, pure and simple.

I must also comment on the statement that was made over the weekend regarding publications in foreign newspapers about Israeli activities, whether they actually took place or not.  Over the past year, we have taken care not to comment on, respond to, confirm or deny, and to act with the necessary restraint and responsibility, regarding security issues of the highest order.  It is inconceivable that somebody – for whatever reasons, be they political or personal – allows himself to say things that I unequivocally reject."

Prime Minister Olmert commended a decision formulated by Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel and Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ra'anan Dinur on the Government's decision-making process. 

Prime Minister Olmert also referred to Israeli participation in the CERN Large Hadron Collider experiment in Switzerland and – inter alia – noted that he had spoken with Weizmann Institute of Science Prof. Giora Mikenberg.  He added: "I was pleased that in addition to the participation of many Israeli scientists in the experiment itself, many Israeli industries, especially in advanced high-tech, greatly contributed as well.  It seems to me that the disproportionate representation of Israeli scientists and advanced technological inputs attests to our scientific ability and – as I quote Prof. Mikenberg – the wisdom of massive investments in research and development, mainly via the Chief Scientist, that we have made in recent years.  Prof. Mikenberg said that he was proud that he could thank the Government for its great contribution, which has enabled the State of Israel's massive participation in this issue