Gen. (res.) Meir Dagan, Prime Minister Sharon\'s security advisor, spoke with Arutz-7 today about Israel\'s current military strategy. He was first asked whether the takeover of Tul Karem could be effective in reducing terrorist attacks. \"We don\'t look at individual actions as reducing specific attacks or as taking care of a specific problem,\" he said. \"We can only look at the entire range of activities and their cumulative effect… The fact that Israel is willing and able to enter Area A [PA-controlled areas] and arrest and disarm terrorists, this is a very significant element in this war…\"



\"In light of Prime Minister Sharon\'s warning yesterday that PA use of its Kassem rockets would evoke an escalated Israeli response,\" Arutz-7\'s Haggai Segal asked Gen. Dagan, \"wouldn\'t it be logical to carry out pre-emptive attacks against these missiles that we know they have?\" Gen. Dagan responded, \"In this case, where the victory will be won on \'points\' and not in a knock-out, there is no purpose in [escalating] the situation before it is necessary.\"



Dagan said that Israel has taken the initiative in this war by identifying a series of targets and achieving its objectives: \"The perception that Israel is only \'reacting\' is incorrect.\" Israel Television military commentator Ron Ben-Yeshai confirmed this view, saying early this evening that Israel is no longer merely reacting, but is carrying out actions designed to \"dismantle and punish the PA.\"



Gen. Dagan added that it is also not true that the latest Palestinian terrorism is a result of any specific Israeli actions.