INTERVIEW AIRS TONIGHT ON THE “CBS EVENING NEWS WITH JEFF GLOR” (6:30-7:00 PM, ET)

In an interview with CBS EVENING NEWS anchor Jeff Glor, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the Israeli response to protests in Gaza and blamed Hamas for the deaths and violence that occurred. Glor sat down with Netanyahu today in Jerusalem for the interview that airs tonight on the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH JEFF GLOR (6:30-7:00 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network.

An excerpt aired today on CBSN, CBS News’ 24/7 streaming news service. Click here to watch the excerpt. Glor also appeared on CBSN to discuss his interview with the prime minister. Click here to watch the debrief.

Here is a transcript of the excerpt:

NETANYAHU: They’re pushing civilians – women, children – into the line of fire with a view of getting casualties. We try to minimize casualties. They’re trying to incur casualties in order to put pressure on Israel, which is horrible.

GLOR: You said they want kids to die.

NETANYAHU: Yes.

GLOR: Putting kids in the line of fire.

NETANYAHU: Yes.

GLOR: Did your army go too far?

NETANYAHU: I don’t know of any army that would do anything differently if you had to protect your border against people who say ‘we’re going to destroy you, and we’re going to flood into your country.’ You try other means, try all sorts of means. You try non-lethal means, and they don’t work. So, you’re left with the bad choices. It’s a bad deal. You know, you’re trying to go for below the knee, and sometimes it doesn’t work, and unfortunately these things are avoidable. If Hamas had not pushed them there, then nothing would happen. Hamas holds responsibility for doing this, and they’re deliberately doing it.

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