Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) and Minister of Public Security Avi Dichter (Kadima) announced that they would be missing the dinner honoring U.S. President George Bush and visiting Ashkelon instead.
"I thought it would be more proper to be with the residents of Ashkelon in these difficult hours," Yishai said, and added: "This is truly a serious event. Unfortunately [the terrorists] are upgrading their abilities." Yishai said he would ask for an urgent session of the security cabinet to discuss the matter, and said it was time for the IDF to take "a more active approach" and carry out "meaningful surgical strikes" among other measures.