Prime Minister Sharon, speaking at a meeting of the Likud Knesset faction yesterday, stated that the time has not yet come for a military response to the ongoing Hizbullah provocations along Israel\'s northern border. \"Based on my understanding of the northern border with Lebanon,\" he said, \"and of the Iranian-Syrian activities and those of the terrorists there - and I know them well - I still prefer, at this point, the option of diplomatic activity... Secretary Powell made a successful visit, after several unsuccessful applications, to Syria; it worked for about two weeks, no more. In my last visit to Washington, I turned their attention to the issue, and as I say, I still prefer for this sector the diplomatic avenue.\" He added in his Knesset speech today that he will stand fast against being dragged into war by the Hizbullah provocations, but that this cannot last forever.
Gabi Na\'man, the mayor of the northern town of Shlomi, told Arutz-7 today that the situation near his town is \"currently quiet, but we don\'t know when it will start up again - the Hizbullah terrorists have not supplied us with a timetable... They have shot a few times in the past few days, and left us with two women wounded. This situation cannot continue. I understand that the PM [wants to] utilize the diplomatic option, but we cannot continue to live under this decree of fire against supposed aircraft, with shrapnel falling on our heads… The government is obligated to preserve our security, and therefore I recommend that any position from which Hizbullah shoots at us again and again, should simply be put out of commission. If not, there will be an escalation, and we will see katyushas, etc.\"
Gabi Na\'man, the mayor of the northern town of Shlomi, told Arutz-7 today that the situation near his town is \"currently quiet, but we don\'t know when it will start up again - the Hizbullah terrorists have not supplied us with a timetable... They have shot a few times in the past few days, and left us with two women wounded. This situation cannot continue. I understand that the PM [wants to] utilize the diplomatic option, but we cannot continue to live under this decree of fire against supposed aircraft, with shrapnel falling on our heads… The government is obligated to preserve our security, and therefore I recommend that any position from which Hizbullah shoots at us again and again, should simply be put out of commission. If not, there will be an escalation, and we will see katyushas, etc.\"