One day after the cabinet meeting in which he rejected the defense establishment's demand to respond to the Qassam fire from the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
came to the Knesset and defended his stance.
"We want to allow this possibility to develop," Olmert said at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, referring to the ceasefire.
| Cabinet Meeting |
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| PM overrules Peretz's call for response to Qassams / Ronny Sofer |
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Defense minister asks cabinet to approve plan to respond to Qassam attacks; Dichter backs Peretz saying Israel has right to self-defense |
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"The military operation did not stop the Qassams," the prime minister reminded the Knesset members. "We must try new moves which can stop them."
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Olmert also referred to the tense situation opposite Syria,
with a claming message: "If there is someone there who feels tense, he can relax. Israel
will not operate against Syria as it did not operate during the Lebanon war."
Right-wing Knesset members slammed the prime minister after the discussion.
"The security sources presented the concerns over the ceasefire, while he, with his familiar euphoria, is completely ignoring the security problems which may be created," said MK Zvi Hendel (National Religious Party-National Union).
MKs Effie Eitam and Yuval Steinitz joined the call, saying that Olmert's remarks proved that Hamas blackmailed Israel for a ceasefire.
"You are experimenting with humans," MK Eitam said, referring to Sderot residents.
Olmert said in response, "You are spreading panic among the public."
A senior Israel Defense Forces officer said during the discussion that in spite of recent publications, there is no change in the IDF's policy in the West Bank.
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