The tragic news out of Hebron in the occupied West Bank earlier today, that two IDF soldiers were killed and three injured in a shooting attack by Palestinian terrorists, is painful and heartbreaking.
Further escalations in the occupied Palestinian territories, just before such a consequential Israeli election, lay bare the human cost of this ongoing conflict.
With a car full of ammunition intended to cause even more damage, there is no telling just how great the damage could have been.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that there is no such thing as "managing the conflict" and that the so-called "status quo" does not, in fact, bring anyone security, and puts countless more Israeli soldiers directly in harm's way.
Netanyahu's threat to demolish entire neighbourhoods in Hebron is not only a call for collective punishment, but will only serve to destabilize the situation even further.
As Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday, we hope that the desire for genuine and lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians alike will be a determining factor as citizens cast their ballots, and that this election can begin to break the cycle of violence.
We commend the Canadian government for continuing to invest in security training in the West Bank and call upon it to ensure that not only are terror attacks being thwarted, but that a two-state solution, with clearly defined borders for Israelis and Palestinians, is pursued to put an end to this cycle of violence and bloodshed.