Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told cabinet ministers on Sunday that "we will not hold negotiations with Hamas – we will not hold negotiations with terrorists." He added that negotiating the release of the kidnapped soldier will encourage more kidnappings.
Olmert spoke of Operation Summer Rains, saying that "this is a war that cannot be bound by time." He asked ministers to abstain from commenting on behind the scene efforts to release Corporal Gilad Shalit.
Olmert responded to calls by cabinet ministers and Knesset members to "clean up" Gaza or widen the operation: "It is possible to launch operations like in the movie James Bond, but we will then lose international support."
He added that Israel needs to act wisely and carefully consider the repercussions of its military actions on the international arena.
"I know of no prime minister or defense minister who were in a similar situation," Olmert told the ministers, adding that: "We will continue this battle with restraint, patience and timely, while using the right tools."
Olmert told the ministers that Israel had prepared for military activity against the Qassam fire before the Kerem Shalom attack and the soldier's abduction.
"This is not the place to hold a public discussion on Gilad Shalit's abduction, due to its sensitivity," the prime minister said.
The prime minister also addressed the criticism directed against Israel in the world in light of the Gaza operation.
"One fact must be said and that people must be aware of: We left Gaza and any attack beyond the international Green Line is an attack on Israel's sovereignty, a terror attack or a provocation. There is no country in the world that would not realize its right for self-defense," he said.
Peretz: Diplomatic efforts continue
Referring to the Qassam fire, which has also reached Ashkelon, Olmert said: "We cannot sit and not respond to the Qassam fire, in this place or another (Ashkelon compared to Sderot). The fire range includes another 120,000 residents today, creating a more significant threat, but let no one think that an Ashkelon resident is more important than a Sderot resident."
Earlier in the meeting, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that "up to now, we have not yet achieved our objectives in the military operation, but it requires patience and restraint." Peretz explained that the operation will continue, along with brief, repeated forays into Gaza.
"The focus of these operations is the areas from where Qassams are launched or where there is suspicion of tunnels," said Peretz and emphasized that, at the same time, efforts are being made through political and other channels to exert pressure on Damascus, and through them, on Hamas.
Peretz told cabinet ministers that he spoke Saturday night with Noam Shalit, father of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, to update him regarding ongoing efforts to secure his son's release and to express support and admiration of the Shalit family.
Additionally, Peretz informed the cabinet that the Karni, Kerem Shalom and Sufa border crossings (from Gaza to Israel) have been closed since Sunday morning, because of a warning of a possible terror attack. According to him, terror organizations, led by Hamas, are those harming the Palestinian population. "They have concentrated most of their recent efforts in damaging these crossings, and, by doing so, are harming our ability to transfer food and medicine," he explained.
The cabinet also discussed Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter's recent statement that the release of Palestinian prisoners is possible on the condition Qassam fire is halted and kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit is released.
Sunday's cabinet meeting (Photo: Reuters)
Minister of Justice, Haim Ramon, asked to create a unified position among cabinet ministers regarding Israel's formal policy during the course of IDF operations in Gaza.
Dichter: We're facing war of attrition
Dichter said this past weekend that Israel would be willing to release Palestinian prisoners in the future, in the event that Palestinians release Cpl. Shalit and stop shooting Qassams at Israel.
During the meeting in Jerusalem, Dichter said: "I want to make it clear that I am opposed to a deal in which terrorists are released in exchange for Gilad Shalit."
Dichter added that "the nation is currently facing a war of attrition. Two hundred thousand Israeli civilians are under threat. There is a high probability of Qassam attack, which may take its toll on civilian lives. The question is, will Israel respond only then or should it respond now?"
"I wish to emphasize again our demand that the Qassam threat to Sderot and Ashkelon be ended," he concluded.
First published: 12:48, 07.09.6