WASHINGTON – Israeli Ambassador to the United States Danny Ayalon told CNN that Israel will call off its operation in Gaza if kidnapped solider Gilad Shalit is released safely.
| Operation 'Summer Rains' |
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| IDF launches Gaza offensive / Ynet reporters |
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(VIDEO) Israeli forces enter Strip after mediators say hope of recovering kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit through diplomatic means running out; earlier Air Force planes fire missiles at three bridges, power station in Strip; some areas plunged into darkness |
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The ambassador added that Israel is not interested in harming innocent civilians, but “we had no choice but to react.”
“For the last six, seven months, we've been receiving more than 800 rockets from Gaza terrorizing our southern communities, and they do need and deserve protection and security from our government," Ayalon said. "There is no excuse for them to keep shelling our towns," Ayalon said.
According to the ambassador, Israel refrained from launching an offensive earlier in order to give Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the international community an opportunity to apply pressure on the terrorists to halt the Qassam rocket fire; however, he said, the soldier’s kidnapping escalated the situation, and when diplomatic efforts to release him failed, Israel was left with no choice but to act.
On Tuesday former Israeli ambassador to the United States Zalman Shoval said during an interview for CNN that Abbas is a terrorist masked as Snow White.
Shoval also said that the prisoners' document is Abbas' capitulation document to the Hamas despite the fact that the world sees it as a measure of moderation.
At present time world leaders and ambassadors are declaring that Israel has a right to defend itself, but Foreign Ministry officials said that should the Gaza offensive continue, the international community will alter its position and criticize the Israeli government.
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