Olmert: Israel will continue until terror is stopped
'Israel aspires for peace, but it cannot accept incessant rocket fire that has been continuing for seven years,' PM says during formal reception for Hungarian president. IDF targets rocket-launching cell in Gaza as Qassam rocket lands in western Negev. Netanyahu: Eastern Europe understands link between totalitarian regimes and terror
"Israel has no choice but to continue its actions until the terror directed at its citizens from Gaza is stopped," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday.
Speaking at a formal reception for Hungarian President László Sólyom at the Knesset in Jerusalem, Olmert added that he "hopes and believes that Hungary will support the measures we will take to end this intolerable situation."
The prime minister acknowledged that Sólyom's visit comes at a difficult time of "Iranian-backed Hamas terror attacks.
"The unruly rocket fire from Gaza targeting our citizens has been continuing for seven years," he said. "Israel aspires for peace. The negotiations, even if suspended for a few days, are continuing, but Israel cannot accept the incessant rocket fire or ignore the plans to set up a military base along its border."
As Olmert was delivering his speech a Qassam rocket landed in Sedot HaNegev Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage. The Salah al-Din Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Also Monday evening the IDF confirmed Palestinian reports the Air Force had targeted a terror cell near the town of Beit Hanoun. The army said that troops had identified the cell transporting a number of rockets and was likely en route to launch a barrage. An al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades operative was reported killed in the strike.
'Embrace truce initiative'
Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu told the Hungarian leader that "at times we have found ourselves facing the world alone; trying to explain and justify our fight against the murderous terror. We have not been very successful in making our case to western Europe, but found some understanding in eastern Europe, because you, who have lived under a totalitarian regime, could immediately understand the Gordian Knot tying totalitarian rule to terror."
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni addressed the foreign diplomatic corps in Israel and briefed them on the situation in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip. A senior Intelligence officer reviewed the IDF's operation in the Strip and explained how terror groups use the Palestinian civilian population for their own means.
"Israel is under attack and that cannot be allowed," said Livni, "when the world speaks of collective punishment, it must bear in mind that there is a collective punishment being inflicted on Sderot, Ashkelon and their neighboring communities that no government in the world would accept."
Also on Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would be willing to work toward a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas following the army's recent operation in Gaza, which left more than 110 Palestinians dead.
A statement released by Abbas' office said "the president is willing to advance a comprehensive ceasefire to save our people. He calls on Israel to "embrace this initiative."
Earlier Olmert told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that "There is no way to prevent the West Bank from turning into a second Gaza Strip without some sort of a political horizon in play. That should be up to a (Palestinian) government who wants to reach an agreement, denounces terror and is after peace."
