Injured evacuated from Sderot
Photo: Tsafrir Abayov
Landing site
Photo: Amir Cohen
IDF officer: Restraint now unethical
Two severly injured in Tuesday's Qassam attack on Sderot. In face of restraint policy, senior officer tells Ynet, 'This is very sad and possibly result of policy'
On Tuesday evening, a Qassam launched from northern Gaza landed in Sderot, injuring two teenage boys. Pursuant to the government's continued policy of restraint, the Israel Defense Forces did not respond.
"The IDF's inactivity is giving immunity to rocket launching cells," the defense establishment claims. "In the past, a terrorist who went out to launch a rocket thought seven times before taking the change and today he doesn't even think twice."
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A senior officer told Ynet "at this time, with unceasing rocket fire, restraint is turning into something unethical. What happened tonight (Tuesday) is very sad and is possibly the result of the policy (of restraint)."
He said that if rocket fire continues at the current rate, there will most likely be more casualties.
Terrified residents in Sderot (Photo: Tsafrir Abayov)
Defense Minister Amir Peretz spoke with several senior officials from the defense establishment, including IDF Chief of General Staff Dan Halutz and IDF Chief of Southern Command Yoav Gallant, regarding the situation.
"We can't continue this policy and we must hit the rocket launch cells," he said angrily.
In a conversation with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, he told the PM that "the rocket launch cells are trying to harm the ceasefire and they are a disaster for the Palestinian people and the whole region."
Peretz is anticipated to convene a meeting with defense establishment officials late Tuesday night, in order to consolidate concrete recommendations for action to present to Olmert.
Pinpoint action against rocket launchers
IDF sources told Ynet that operations can be undertaken in a pinpointed manner, with a low risk for the Palestinian population at large.
"There are many means to operate in order to hit the launching cells so they'll feel harassed and worried the whole time they're launching the Qassam," they said. The recommended operations by defense officials focus on use of aerial attacks and special, precise technological equipment.
According to the sources, terrorists may try to fire from civilian areas, in an attempt to cause civilian casualties and thus, incite the region. "We are familiar with this behavior, but also know how to deal with it."
"The alternative, to do nothing at all, as is happening now, could result in many casualties on the Israeli side," they declared.
Defense establishment sources posited that, pursuant to the meeting with Olmert Tuesday night, there will be a change in policy, although the IDF's freedom of operation will most likely remain very limited.
Since the ceasefire, some sixty Qassams have been launched at Israel. This is a higher rate of attacks than in many other periods in 2006, indicating a lack of correlation between IDF operations and increased rocket fire.
Peretz's recommendation is also a limited increase of freedom for the IDF. In his conversation with Olmert, he referred to the policy as "a gamble with the security of the citizens".
