PM: Hebron violence a pogrom

VIDEO - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert opened Sunday's cabinet meeting with an attack on Jewish settlers in Hebron, calling their violence over the weekend "a pogrom". Video courtesy of Infolive.tv "As a Jew, I'm ashamed of the sights of Jews firing at Arabs in Hebron. I have no other definition for what we saw but a pogrom. We are the sons of a nation which knows what a pogrom is, and I'm saying this after much thought. I have no other way to put it," he said. "I have asked the defense minister and other relevant elements to do all it takes, with all the strength needed and in any place controlled by the State of Israel, in order to stop this phenomenon. I hope there will be no more mercy towards the rioters among the settlers." Olmert went on to address the situation in southern Israel, saying that "Israel has no plans to accept the violation of the truce as the terror organizations are brutally and violently doing. "We entered the truce unenthusiastically, with hesitations, and said that if it takes place we will be able to reach a period of calm following ongoing terror. I spoke to the defense minister and the Israeli government will form a stance guaranteeing that this situation won't continue. "We'll act firmly and reasonably, but won't hesitate, in order to restore peace," the prime minister added. On Sunday afternoon, the cabinet approved the allotment of NIS 695 million (about $174 million) for the fortification of Gaza vicinity communities. Following the approval, some 6,000 housing units subject to rocket fire will be fortified in the coming years. Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, who led the demand for additional fortification along with the defense minister, said that "the fortification is crucial regardless of the IDF's offensive plans. The first line must always be protected." The budget will be spent over the next three years, and the completion of the fortification of 4,400 additional housing units may take many more months, as the first stage of building bomb shelters approved last February has yet to be completed. Livni: Person in charge of security must act Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said during the cabinet meeting that "there is no truce in Gaza. Those referring to it as a truce don't know what is going on there. The person responsible for our security must act. I'll work on the diplomatic level." Defense Minister Ehud Barak stressed, on his part, "I'm aware of the situation in Gaza. This is a reality requiring reasoning, responsibility and diplomacy." Teasing Livni, he added, "I know this is a hot political season and I'm aware of the residents' suffering, but the operation won't escape and I'm responsible." Video courtesy of Infolive.tv A source close to Barak said that "Livni's idle chatter exceeds all good taste. Election campaign aside, when it comes to matters of security, the foreign minister should act more responsibly, instead of following the messages put in her mouth." A Kadima source said in response that "Barak is weak and because he squinters at the radical Left, he doesn't do anything to stop the Qassam fire or the escalation in the south. Security is not achieved through restraint but through actions. Barak is not only unlikable and not very trendy he is not even the defense minister, as far as Gaza is concerned." Ongoing fire The rocket fire from the Gaza Strip continued Sunday, with five Qassams and five mortar shells landing in open areas in the western Negev. Another rocket landed at the entrance to Sderot. There were no reports of injuries or damage. Six rockets and 10 mortar shells were fired into Israel over the weekend, prompting council heads in the Gaza vicinity to call for a response. "We must respond with fire to the rocket fire from Gaza," an aide to Livni said Saturday night. According to the foreign minister, a discussion on whether to continue the lull and under what conditions must be held now, as the truce "is anyway about to expire in a short while, and is not honored by the Palestinian side as it is. We must start rethinking what we plan to do." Vice Premier Haim Ramon also called on the government not to wait. "The truce failed, both in terms of (kidnapped soldier) Gilad Shalit's release and in terms of the calm in the south. "Missiles fired at the south over the weekend are an intolerable reality, and the lull must end now," he told Ynet. PM: Conflict regarding security resolved Also Sunday, Olmert briefed his ministers on the progress made between Education Minister Yuli Tamir, Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On and Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, regarding the conflict surrounding security details in educational facilities in Israel, saying it had been resolved. The conflict between the ministries centered on who was to come up with the NIS 140 million (approx. $35 million) needed to fund security in schools. Sources in the Treasury confirmed that an agreement was reached adding that it now pends the government's approval. The National Union of Local Authorities (NULA) threatened to stage a school strike, after learning that the Public Security Ministry intended to cut back on security in schools. Adi Eldar, head of the NULA welcomed the decision to continue funding schools' security, saying that he was "glad the government came to its senses and cancelled this delusional plan which would have placed our children in grave danger." The NULA did warn, however, that if the Treasury "tries any tricks" they will of ahead with the planned strike. Attila Somfalvi and Yaheli Moran Zelikovich contributed to this report

PM: Hebron violence a pogrom

(Video) Olmert opens cabinet meeting with attack on settlers' actions in West Bank city following evacuation of disputed house: 'As a Jew, I'm ashamed of the sights of Jews firing at Arabs in Hebron.' Cabinet approves NIS 695 milion increase to southern communities' fortification budget