A resident of Gush Katif - whose family "adopted" Friday's terrorist victim Tif'eret Tratner after she did a year of national service in N'vei Dekalim a few years ago - said today that it appears that Prime Minister Sharon is happy with the mortar attacks. "These attacks serve his purpose in advancing the disengagement program, just like the compensation payments and the like," the man said. "The IDF reacts efficiently, but quite delicately - there are things that the government does not allow them to do. For instance, the terrorists shoot from a mosque area in Khan Yunis and from a line of buildings built by the Austrians, but the IDF never fires back at those targets, except when they once destroyed just one of the Austrian buildings."



Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) said this morning, during the course of a Cabinet meeting briefing by Defense Minister Mofaz, raised the fear he said he has heard from various sources that the IDF is not doing enough to prevent the firing of mortar shells on Gush Katif. Prime Minister Sharon said that only a "sick mind" could think that the government is not fighting against terrorism with full determination simply to make it harder for the settlers. Sharon also said that incitement against the government emanates even from the Cabinet ministers.



MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) also rebuffed the idea that Sharon was not fighting terrorism in full force, but added, "There is no doubt that the daily rocket and shelling attacks are serving to wear out the residents."



Unnamed Defense Ministry sources quoted by Army Radio this morning stated that the military must not sit passively by while projectiles are regularly fired into communities, resulting in loss of life, injuries, and property damage.