Speaking before UJC convention foreign minister says, 'Gaza is ruled by Hamas' ideology, that doesn't recognize our right to exist. We won't put up with recurring violations of ceasefire, there are times when Israel must say: enough is enough'
"If there is calm and the time is not utilized for the next attack – there will be calm in return. If Israeli citizens are attacked – Israel will respond forcefully in order to protect its citizens," Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Saturday with regards to the renewed rocket fire from Gaza over the past week.
Worry and Fury
Rocket-battered towns worried as violence escalates / Ilana Curiel
After yet another tense weekend of rocket attacks, residents of Israel's southern communities are furious the cabinet failed to use brief respite in hostilities to fortify homes in range of Gaza's rockets
"Gaza is ruled by Hamas' extremist ideology, which doesn't accept our right to exist," she said, adding that the Hamas regime was being supported by radical administrations such as Iran.
"Israel is not interested in deterioration, but we won't put up with recurring violations of the ceasefire. They must understand that there are times when Israel must say 'enough is enough'," Livni said.
The foreign minister also spoke of the odds of achieving peace with the Palestinians. "The choice is not between peace and security," she said. "The ideal would be to continue negotiations for the achievement of a deal… We need to achieve security for citizens as part of achieving peace."
Livni, who plans to run for the premiership in February, was speaking before women of the United Jewish Communities (UJC) in Tel Aviv. In reference to women's place in leadership she said, "Men do not hold
the monopoly on security."
"Sometimes it seems as though men have the monopoly on the world, but women have had a very important role since biblical times and in the establishment of the State of Israel. Women are capable of protecting themselves, their families, and their people, not because they can – because they care," she said.
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