|
Olmert to Hamas: Don't shoot, and neither will we
Israeli forces will not attack the Gaza Strip if Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups halt their cross-border rocket salvoes, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday. Speaking after his security cabinet authorised a campaign to stop rocket attacks from Gaza and undermine the territorys Islamist Hamas rulers, Olmert signalled a willingness by Israel to hold its fire. One thing should be clear. If there is no rocket fire on Israel, there will be no Israeli attack on Gaza. We do not rise in the morning and think about how to attack Gaza, Olmert told reporters. The Israeli army operations against Gaza Strip will continue as long as the rocket fire continues, a senior official quoted the premier as telling a meeting of the security cabinet on the situation in Gaza. A statement released by Olmerts office after the meeting said that the Israeli government will act continuously, systematically, and over a long period to put an end to rocket fire and other terror activities in Gaza. The Israeli statement said that while Israel would work to contain Hamas, it would also advance peace process with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. Government spokesman Mark Regev insisted that the Hamas government in Gaza bore full responsibility for the latest escalation.Posted by: Fred 2008-03-06 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=232107 |