Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday that Israel would not launch a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip in the near future.
"It's not the right time for an operation in Gaza," Barak told the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee (FADC) of the Knesset (parliament).
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), however, will "have to engage in such an operation if Qassam rocket fire and weapons smuggling continue as they have of late," he said.
Barak said Israel had the ability to enter Gaza and operate there, noting that the IDF would not hesitate to use the air force, ground forces and even the navy in a possible confrontation.
"Everyday that passes brings Israel closer to being forced to confront the terror threat from Gaza," Barak said.
Regarding a U.S.-sponsored peace conference, Barak said "Israelis going to seek important agreements that would require the Palestinians to implement the first stage of the road map."
Member of Knesset Limor Livnat of Likud said that Barak hinted that he did not want to jeopardize the peace conference.
Meanwhile, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Yosef Mishlav told the FADC that Israel might implement a new plan to stop the flow of cooking gas to Gaza and also lower the voltage of the electricity provided to Gaza instead of cutting off electricity.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in mid June after routing Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah forces. Abbas responded by expelling Hamas from the Palestinian coalition government and installing a pro-Western cabinet in the West Bank.
Israel, demanding the PNA to dismantle all terrorist organizations, has shown its good-will gestures to strengthen Abbas ahead of the upcoming peace conference expected to take place in the last week of November in Annapolis, Maryland.
Source: Xinhua
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