News Brief20:53 PM

(IsraelNN.com) President Shimon Peres addressed the conference being held in his residence in Jerusalem Wednesday and said Israel would hit back at its attackers. "They are trying to destroy Lebanon through the Hizbullah and to destroy the Palestinians through Gaza," Peres said. He added, raising his voice: "I do not know what will happen in Lebanon and with the Palestinians, but with us, it will not work! We are determined to react as is necessary and to continue the peace process as is necessary."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also began his speech with a reference to today's events in Ashkelon. He said: "What happened today is entirely intolerable and the government is determined to stop it, and we will take the necessary steps, and it will stop."