1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving at cabinet meeting
2. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman (middle) arriving at cabinet meeting
3. Netanyahu and ministers at cabinet
4. Cutaway of Netanyahu
5. Mid of cabinet meeting
6. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:
"Today, actually this evening, we will commemorate Holocaust Memorial day. The memory of the Holocaust is always with us, and so is our appreciation to the courage that established the State of Israel and gives us hope to the future. This hope is first and foremost our ability to defend ourselves on our own against those who want to annihilate us. On this matter, I saw something outrageous and absurd, people approaching IDF (Israel Defence Forces) soldiers who are protecting us from annihilation and calling them terrorists. They are not calling Hamas terrorists, who are saying loud and clear that they intend to destroy the State of Israel, including those demonstrators - no terrorists calls to that. To the IDF soldiers who are acting to prevent this annihilation, they are being attacked. Nothing more absurd than this. I think that on every day, especially today, we all know IDF's soldiers incredible contribution to the security of Israel and the future of Israel. I am proud of our soldiers, and with the government ministers, we give the full and necessary back up to their sacred duty."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday came to the defence of Israeli soldiers.
Speaking at a regular cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said soldiers protecting Israel "from annihilation" were being approached by people calling them terrorists, adding "nothing more absurd that this".
Netanyahu was referring to a video shot on the border with Gaza where a left-wing protester accused Israeli soldiers of being terrorists.
Netanyahu made his defence as Israel marked its annual Holocaust memorial day.
Since late March, 26 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire in mass border protests led by Hamas, but also driven by widespread desperation over the territory's decade-old border blockade by Israel and Egypt.
The protests are seen, in part, as an attempt by Hamas to break the blockade.
Israel has accused Hamas of using the protests as a cover for carrying out attacks and bringing infiltrators into Israel.
It has said some of those at the border tried to damage the fence, planted explosives or hurled firebombs.
