Olmert: No surrender
Photo: Gil Yochanan
Olmert: We won't be deterred
In government meeting after lethal Haifa attack, prime minister says: 'We have no intention of bending to these threats. They will fail. Our cause is just'
During a government meeting held Sunday morning to discuss the escalation of the war in the north, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: "This is a difficult morning for us all. The severe attacks in Haifa join the lethal attacks in other areas of the country. This is the criminal war of Hizbullah against the nation and its residents. We have no intention of bending to these threats. They will fail. There is no time limit. Our cause is just. Every nation in the world would respond like us."
Following the situation and in light of the Katyusha barrages in the north, the government held a special session. After a relatively quiet night in the north, residents woke up to a barrage of Katyusha rockets in which eight people were killed and dozens injured. Residents of Haifa have been instructed to return to the bomb shelters.
At the start of the government meeting the prime minister said: "I send from here my condolences to the families of the killed, and wishes of a speedy recovery to the injured, and a hug in the name of the Israeli government to those kidnapped and their families. A few days ago the State of Israel was attacked from the north, after a murderous attack in Gaza. This is an attack on innocents on the State of Israel's sovereign territory, both in the south and the north. The State of Israel cannot and will not accept this."
He added: "We do not have any intention of harming the Palestinian people and Lebanese citizens. We only asked to live in calm, to live in peace. Unfortunately there are those who interpreted this wrongly. We have no intention of bending to these incidents. The public is strong, especially in this struggle in the north and the south. The strength of the residents is part of the power of the State of Israel. There will be no time limit on the operation. This is daily struggle. We, the citizens and government of Israel, will continue to display calm, stamina, and determination."
Aid for the northern frontline
The prime minister also addressed aid to be delivered to the northern front: "The government is preparing to bring aid to its citizens who have been affected. A committee headed by the Director-General of the Prime Minister's Bureau, in full coordination with other government ministries, and with backing by the Finance Ministry, will provide all necessary aid."
Olmert added that "the decisions of these days are difficult and painful. The government under my leadership will continue on the path it chose. Nothing will deter us. There will be far-reaching implications for this on the northern border and in the area in general."
The prime minister turned to the defense minister, chief of staff, security chiefs, and the IDF general staff who were present at the meeting and said: "To all IDF soldiers and members of the security forces, I am proud to be a citizen of a state where this is the army and these are its security forces. The whole of the Israeli people stands behind you."
Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai added: "An emergency situation has been created here and the government must be tougher than in the past. There's no doubt that all Hizbullah infrastructures must be disbanded, taken out, and destroyed."
