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Commentary:
Is the Olmert, Livni, Barak troika setting up Israel for a premature acceptance of a ceasefire short of achieving the goals of Operation Cast Lead?
Among those goals were understood to be destruction of Hamas’ terrorist capabilities, setting in place a fool-proof mechanism to prevent weapons smuggling and to prevent rebuilding of a terrorist capability as well as the liberation of Gilad Shalit?
What about the destruction of Hamas’ terror capabilities? What about assuring that a teror capability never again arises? What about security for the towns, moshavim and large urban centers of southern Israel? Is Gilad Shalit about to be abandoned?
Or is this headline and the report’s opening statement out of context with the rest of the report? MB
Olmert: We Are Approaching Goals Set for Gaza Operation
Excerpts;
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that the IDF was getting close to the objectives set for Operation Cast Lead.
Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, the prime minister warned that what had been achieved thus far in an “unprecedented effort” must not be lost at the last moment.
“Israel is approaching the goals it set for itself, but we require further patience, determination and effort so that our citizens can feel safety and stability,” said Olmert. “The Israeli public, especially the residents of the South, have the necessary patience and willingness – so does the government!”
Olmert also hit back at the mounting international criticism of the Gaza operation.
“No country in the world, even those preaching morals to us, would have shown the tolerance and restraint that we have,” he said.
“We have never agreed that anyone decide for us if we are allowed to strike at those who send missiles into our kindergartens and schools, and we never will,” continued the prime minister.
Olmert defended the Security Cabinet’s decision to continuation of the Gaza operation in spite of Thursday’s night’s UN Security Council resolution which called for an immediate and durable cease-fire.
“I must note that UN Security Council Resolution 1860 also sharply rules out continued attacks directed against civilians and does not forbid urgent action against them,” he said.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak emphasized that Operation Cast Lead was continuing even as diplomatic options were being examined.
“We are continuing to act in order to restore quiet to the South and to prevent weapons smuggling via the Philadelphi Corridor,” Barak said.
“The IDF is operating by air, land and sea and is also exploring the diplomatic channel,” he continued. “There is no contradiction between the two.”