Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ordered senior defense officials to use all means at their disposal to stop the launching of Qassam rockets from the Gaza Strip to southern Israel.

"I issued an unequivocal directive to the heads of the defense establishment that there are no restrictions on the means used to strike at the terrorists, members of the terror organizations, their equipment and their hideouts," Sharon told Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the closure of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank will continue until after the eight-day Hanukkah festival that began Sunday night.

He also ordered increased security during the holiday due to the large number of warnings about the intention of Islamic Jihad and other organizations to carry out attacks within Israel.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Meir Sheetrit proposed firing inexpensive rockets at the Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian rocket attack, Israel Radio reported on Monday.

He said the banal Israeli response of firing artillery shell at open land from where Palestinian militants launched homemade Qassam rockets does not stop the attack.

"For a relatively small amount of money we can manufacture small missiles that make a lot of noise, very little damage and when they fall on someone's head they can kill him, exactly like the Qassams do," Sheetrit said.

Sheetrit made the proposal at the cabinet meeting on Sunday, which was chaired by Sharon, who went back to work after recovery from a minor stroke he suffered on Dec. 18.

Source: Xinhua