'We won't be war criminals'
Senior government official tells Ynet in response to demands that IDF distance Gaza Qassam launchers even at price of hurting civilians, 'Israel only operates against Palestinian targets that threaten us;
"We will not be war criminals. Whoever is irresponsible, should go and face (International War Crimes Tribunal in) The Hague," the official said in response to the demand made by a number of ministers in the past few days that the IDF should strike Palestinian population concentrations, even at the price of hurting civilians.
The ministers demanded to carry out the strikes in order to distance the civil population from areas near the Gaza Strip border, and thus to also distance Qassam launchers from the target range of southern Ashkelon and IDF bases.
The ministers, led by Yisrael Katz, Meir Sheetrit and Gideon Ezra, said that the Palestinian population should be warned before such a strike is carried out.
Officials at the Prime Minister's Office, however, hastened to calm the atmosphere caused by the ministers' statements.
'We cannot ignore the current situation'
"The IDF is operating and will operate against those who fire the Qassams, once they are identified. There is no need for unspecified firing at civilian targets. This will only cause damage to Israel," an official said.
"The defense establishment has received the suitable permits in order to operate with all the means at its disposal against the Qassam launchers. We do not accept the current situation and will work with full force against the launchers, but not against a civil population," the official added.
'No need for unspecified firing at civilian targets' (Photo: Reuters)
A senior government official told Ynet, "It's very easy for people with no responsibility to suggest that we fire at population centers; we do not plan on facing the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.
"Israel and the IDF will operate only against targets that are threatening to Israel, as we have done in the past," he added. "We cannot ignore the current situation (Qassam attacks), but we will act in the framework of the accepted rules."
Sources in the Prime Minister's Office said Sharon and government ministers have been holding diplomatic negotiations to put an end to the Qassam terror.
"No country has disputed our right to protect our citizens, but we must do so in the framework of the accepted international regulations," one source said.
Earlier Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered the IAF on to continue air strikes deep into Palestinian territory in Gaza in response to ongoing Qassam attacks on Israel in recent days. The decision to carry on with the strikes was taken during a meeting Mofaz held with senior officials to evaluate the escalation in the security situation.
