by Hillel FendelAt the conclusion of an emergency security meeting in the PM's office this morning, a contradictory decision was reached: The ceasefire will continue, but Israel will act militarily when necessary.
Define "necessary".
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert consulted and decided: The ceasefire is still officially in effect, but the IDF will take specific military action against Kassam rocket launching cells.
Such action may be misinterpreted by the enemy, however. Islamic Jihad, the terrorist group that fired several Kassams into Israel yesterday, said its rocket attacks were a response to Israel's ceasefire violations.
Chutzpah, thee name is islamic jihad.
Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided as well that Israel will also demand that the Palestinian Authority and its chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, take stronger measures to stop the Kassams.
Shortly afterwards, another Kassam came crashing down into Sderot. No one was hurt and no damage was caused.
The official government announcement reads as follows:
"Over the past days, terrorist cells in Gaza have increased their firing of Kassam rockets towards Israeli population centers - despite the fact that Israel agreed to a ceasefire and was careful over the past month not to respond to ceasefire violations. Under these circumstances, instructions have been given to the security forces to take pinpointed action against the launching cells. Simultaneously, Israel
will continue to preserve the ceasefire and will act vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority in order for them to take immediate action to stop the shooting of Kassams."
Olmert's decision was likely influenced by his desire not to destabilize his scheduled meetings in the coming days with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu Al-Gheit, and with Chinese leaders in Beijing. This, despite the fact that several government ministers have called, over the past days, to end the policy of restraint.
MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) was infuriated by Olmert's decision. "It's not enough for Olmert that the two boys were seriously injured; in order for him to take action, they had to have been killed!"
His party colleague MK Aryeh Eldad said that just like 19-year-old Margalit Har-Shefi was imprisoned a few years ago for allegedly knowing yet not stopping Yigal Amir from planning to kill Yitzchak Rabin, "so too, Olmert must be convicted of not stopping the crime of Kassam attacks against Israeli citizens."
Former National Security Advisor Gen. (ret.) Uzi Dayan said, "Those who think that military might will solve everything are wrong - but those who think that you can achieve anything in the Middle East without any military action are also wrong. Right now, what the government must do is to end its policy of restraint, and activate our
ground forces in northern and southern Gaza - otherwise Hamas will
turn into Hizbullah."
In Sderot
Meanwhile, some Sderot residents, feeling they have been abandoned by their government, are exploring the option of a "mass evacuation." A proponent of the idea told Voice of Israel Radio this morning, "If the government would provide us with some hope, or would tell us that there is value to our suffering because actions are being taken to end the threat, then OK. But the government is promising us nothing, and is doing nothing. I believe that if 20,000 of us leave, the government will not be able to withstand this pressure, and would make sure to come up with a solution - whether it be diplomatic or military."
Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal does not agree. "When buses blew up in Jerusalem every few days, and when the early pioneering towns were constantly shot at, people didn't leave - and we also have to hold on as well," Moyal said. "I didn't support this government, but I can tell you that I am not at all jealous of Olmert right now."
Alon Davidi, a leader of the local Sderot struggle for protection against Kassam rockets, said as well that the the evacuation plan is not serious. However, he has biting criticism for Prime Minister Olmert: "Why do two fine boys have to nearly pay with their lives just because Olmert has granted diplomatic immunity to terrorists in Gaza?"
Davidi added that the fact that the army was prevented until now from protecting its citizens by firing at Kassam launching cells "represents the lowest point that the State of Israel has ever reached."