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Qassam in Negev kibbutz
Photo: Ze'ev Trachtman

Gov't source: Gaza truce can still be resumed

Top government official says it's not too late to resume ceasefire with Gaza Strip. Nonetheless, 'if Hamas completely violates the truce, it will a hefty price '. Source says Israel not afraid to break truce

A top diplomatic source in Jerusalem responded to the rocket barrages on southern Israel on Friday, saying, "If Hamas completely violates the truce, it will pay the hefty price of renewing terror activity".

Nonetheless, the source said, "we have not yet reached the point of no return, and if Hamas stops the shooting, we can renew the terms of the truce.

 

"We can't say we didn't expect this. Israel was not the first one to violate the truce in the Gaza Strip. Israel has made many efforts to get the message across that it is interested in continuing the truce."

 

The source continued to say that even last week's IDF operation in which a tunnel in Gaza was blown up, was done to preserve the ceasefire. "It was clear to Israel that sending an attack out through the tunnel would have put an end to the truce.

 

"Hamas has been renewing its terrorist activity from the Gaza Strip, and completely violating all terms of the ceasefire. Hamas tried to initiate an attack that was foiled and in which four terrorists were killed. It is allowing attacks from inside Gazan territory to Israeli communities."

 

The sources mentioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's statement last week that the truce was in a very fragile state, and that a confrontation with Hamas was only a matter of time.

 

"Israel is not afraid of the breaking the truce," the source said. "Such a decision could be made any day. As long as Hamas continues to fire Qassams and initiate terror activity towards the civil population in Israel, Israel's activity in Gaza will get closer to execution. Hamas will pay a hefty price."

 

In an attempt to comfort southern residents, who have been under fire the past week, the source said, "We may be heading for a period of escalation in the Gaza Strip. The residents will be asked to show restraint and stamina. If we can't resume the ceasefire and there is an escalation, a military operation will be near."

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.14.08, 13:26
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