Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would cut short his ongoing trip to the United States, due to – what he referred to as “a criminal attack on the State of Israel.” The remarks came after the Prime Minister held a conference call with IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, the Director of the National Security Council and the Director of Israel’s Shin Bet Security Agency. Netanyahu stressed that Israel will respond forcefully to the heinous attack on Israel’s civilian community, and noted that he would embark for Israel immediately after his slated-meeting with President Donald Trump In Washington; to direct military operations “from close at hand.” The Prime Minister’s decision effectively cancelled his highly-anticipated address at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is the most powerful pro-Israeli lobby group on Capitol Hill.