Deputy Prime Minister and Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai joined others in calling on Olmert to authorize a response to the rocket attacks launched by Palestinian Authority terrorists, saying that Israel should not “sanctify” its restraint policy and should allow the IDF to respond to specific attacks.
At least three rockets were fired at Israel on Thursday. One landed outside of the western Negev city of Sderot. Another exploded near a kibbutz in the western Negev. No one was hurt and no damage was reported.
One Gaza family was not as fortunate. A misfired Kassam scored a direct hit on a house in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, wounding three sleeping children and their uncle after tearing through the living room and exploding in their bedroom. A 2-year-old boy suffered two broken legs, while his uncle and his 3-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister suffered shrapnel wounds. A pregnant woman was also lightly injured, suffering a miscarriage as a result. It is unclear where in Gaza the second rocket landed.
Ten rockets have been fired at Israel since Wednesday morning, and Israeli legislators are losing patience with the so-called ceasefire which began almost a month ago. More than 50 Kassam rockets have been used to attack Israel since the “truce” with Palestinian Authority terrorists in Gaza went into effect.
The prime minister warned during a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg late Wednesday that the restraint Israel has displayed thus far in reaction to the ongoing rocket attacks from Palestinian Authority-controlled Gaza must soon end.
"Over 40 rockets landed in Israel since the ceasefire and the last one was fired as we speak," Prime Minister Olmert said. A total of seven attacks were launched Wednesday.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for most of the attacks, which on Wednesday sent one person into shock and nearly slammed into a gathering of hundreds of children in Sderot. One of the rockets landed just south of the city of Ashkelon, on Israel's southern coast. A third hit a kibbutz and two others landed near the Sufa crossing. The rest fell in open areas in the western Negev.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said during his meeting with the Prime Minister Thursday morning that the policy of not responding to the attacks must be re-examined. He pointed out that the lack of military response to the rockets has created an immunity under which the launchers are continuing to carry out the attacks. Peretz added that the terrorists are being strengthened by the policy of restraint, and said, “We cannot gamble with the security of Israel’s citizens. It is forbidden to grant immunity to those launching Kassams.”
National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer also called for an IDF response. “Enough restraint,” he said on Israel Radio. “Israel is many things, but a suicidal state isn’t one of them. The moment a rocket squad is in the crosshairs, we can’t leave them there for a second.” The former Defense Minister added, “It’s their (the PA’s) swamp. Let them sink in it.”
National Union / National Religious Party Knesset member Zevulun Orlev charged that continuing the "hands off" policy would turn the residents of Sderot and other western Negev communities into “sitting ducks in a shooting gallery”. Orlev told Israel Radio that the government’s policy of “burying its head in the sand must stop before the next disaster.”
His fellow NU/NRP Knesset member, Aryeh Eldad also spoke with Israel Radio, and said the Kadima government had abandoned its constituents, and accused the government of “waiting for someone to be killed so it has an excuse to fulfill its obligation.”
Kadima Knesset member David Tal demanded to know how long the Prime Minister would allow the attacks to continue before taking action.
“How long with you overlook it? Will it take 40 more Kassams, or a rocket landing on a school for us to react?” asked Tal. “Residents of the area live in constant fear, and they must be provided the same peace and quiet as the rest of the residents in the country,” he said.
Peretz is set to meet with top defense officials Thursday night to discuss ways of dealing with the attacks.
At least three rockets were fired at Israel on Thursday. One landed outside of the western Negev city of Sderot. Another exploded near a kibbutz in the western Negev. No one was hurt and no damage was reported.
One Gaza family was not as fortunate. A misfired Kassam scored a direct hit on a house in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, wounding three sleeping children and their uncle after tearing through the living room and exploding in their bedroom. A 2-year-old boy suffered two broken legs, while his uncle and his 3-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister suffered shrapnel wounds. A pregnant woman was also lightly injured, suffering a miscarriage as a result. It is unclear where in Gaza the second rocket landed.
Ten rockets have been fired at Israel since Wednesday morning, and Israeli legislators are losing patience with the so-called ceasefire which began almost a month ago. More than 50 Kassam rockets have been used to attack Israel since the “truce” with Palestinian Authority terrorists in Gaza went into effect.
The prime minister warned during a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg late Wednesday that the restraint Israel has displayed thus far in reaction to the ongoing rocket attacks from Palestinian Authority-controlled Gaza must soon end.
"Over 40 rockets landed in Israel since the ceasefire and the last one was fired as we speak," Prime Minister Olmert said. A total of seven attacks were launched Wednesday.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for most of the attacks, which on Wednesday sent one person into shock and nearly slammed into a gathering of hundreds of children in Sderot. One of the rockets landed just south of the city of Ashkelon, on Israel's southern coast. A third hit a kibbutz and two others landed near the Sufa crossing. The rest fell in open areas in the western Negev.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said during his meeting with the Prime Minister Thursday morning that the policy of not responding to the attacks must be re-examined. He pointed out that the lack of military response to the rockets has created an immunity under which the launchers are continuing to carry out the attacks. Peretz added that the terrorists are being strengthened by the policy of restraint, and said, “We cannot gamble with the security of Israel’s citizens. It is forbidden to grant immunity to those launching Kassams.”
National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer also called for an IDF response. “Enough restraint,” he said on Israel Radio. “Israel is many things, but a suicidal state isn’t one of them. The moment a rocket squad is in the crosshairs, we can’t leave them there for a second.” The former Defense Minister added, “It’s their (the PA’s) swamp. Let them sink in it.”
National Union / National Religious Party Knesset member Zevulun Orlev charged that continuing the "hands off" policy would turn the residents of Sderot and other western Negev communities into “sitting ducks in a shooting gallery”. Orlev told Israel Radio that the government’s policy of “burying its head in the sand must stop before the next disaster.”
His fellow NU/NRP Knesset member, Aryeh Eldad also spoke with Israel Radio, and said the Kadima government had abandoned its constituents, and accused the government of “waiting for someone to be killed so it has an excuse to fulfill its obligation.”
Kadima Knesset member David Tal demanded to know how long the Prime Minister would allow the attacks to continue before taking action.
“How long with you overlook it? Will it take 40 more Kassams, or a rocket landing on a school for us to react?” asked Tal. “Residents of the area live in constant fear, and they must be provided the same peace and quiet as the rest of the residents in the country,” he said.
Peretz is set to meet with top defense officials Thursday night to discuss ways of dealing with the attacks.