Eli Yishai
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Benjamin Netanyahu
Photo: AP
Minister Yishai demands Gaza action
Shas chair urges cabinet to make operational decisions in light of ongoing Qassam fire on south
As the rocket fire on the western Negev increases and as the election campaign accelerates ahead of February 10, the government's policy of restraint is taking center stage.
"Blood and pain have stained this ceasefire. I urged the cabinet to make operational decisions. Stop selling a virtual calm," said Shas Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai.
Bombarded
Shmulik Hadad
Further escalation in south: At least five Qassam rockets fired at southern Israeli communities Wednesday afternoon. Rocket explodes in Sderot parking lot, three people sustain light wounds; eyewitness: Children were crying
Wednesday saw at least 17 Qassam rockets fired from northern Gaza at the western Negev. One of the rockets hit a busy shopping center in Sderot, causing three people light injuries and several others to suffer shock. Other rockets landed in open areas, causing no harm.
The IAF struck a rocket launcher in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun Wednesday evening, in response to the fire.
"The terrorists are targeting Sderot and the Gaza vicinity communities like they were on a dart board, as our leaders seen to have turned into pillars of salt when it comes to making decisions, and pillars of ice when it comes to feelings," Yishai said. "Those trying to butcher us should know that we have targets of our own. No one is immune."
Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu added that the government's current policy proves conducive to the escalating rocket fire, saying that the situation will change "only when we go from being passive to taking actions that restore Israel's deterrence, which has been eroded to the point of nonexistence."
"The current policy does not contribute to peace, just to terror," he said, pledging that a Likud-led government will not agree to divide Jerusalem or to release any more Palestinian prisoners.
Amnon Meranda, Shmulik Hadad and Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
