Defense Minister Ehud Barak urged the cabinet on Sunday to consider discussing in its next session the use of counter fire in response to the Qassam rockets being launched at the Negev from the Gaza Strip. During a debate on the matter of reinforcing Gaza-area homes, Barak suggested that the matter of responsive fire be raised during the cabinet's next meeting on Wednesday. The defense minister stressed that the most recent Israel Defense Forces operation, which was carried out to destroy a tunnel from the coastal territory believed to be intended for abducting soldiers, was a "defensive raid."
"The operation does not give the Palestinian organizations justification for breaching the calm," he said. Barak was referring to the barrage of Qassam rockets which were launched following the raid. IDF and Israel Air Force troops killed at least six Hamas gunmen and one Islamic Jihad militant during the operations. In response, militants in Gaza fired 35 rockets at Israel on Wednesday and four each on Thursday and Friday.
Barak told cabinet ministers that should a discussion of the sort being held in the cabinet, he would like to see Attorney General Menachem Mazuz present to discuss the legal ramifications of response fire. Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer added that during this discussion, ministers must also consider the legal aspects of cutting off electricity to the Gaza Strip.
Vice Premier Haim Ramon proposed holding an expansive debate regarding Israel's policy on the cease-fire with the Gaza Strip. "The calm was called for a limited period and that time is running out," he said.
The special cabinet session called for Wednesday is thus far intended for debate on reinforcing homes in western Negev communities against rocket fire.
It is not clear why Barak chose to raise the subject of counter fire during that debate, considering that such a move would be in violation of the five-month old cease-fire.
Not having a highly trained legal mind, I can't quite see the logic in that statement.