Israeli Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz on Sunday called for a personal targeted killing policy against the Hamas government, while Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed to restore calm in the south of the Jewish state.
Mofaz, who made the call following renewed rocket attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip, slammed the Israeli leadership and demanded policy change.
"We must take a targeted killing policy against the Hamas leadership. It must be part of our overall policy, which should determine concrete actions against all the terror organizations," Mofaz was quoted by local news service Ynet as saying.
According to Ynet, when Mofaz served as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff and defense minister, the Israeli army made a lot of use of the "targeted killing" method against senior Palestinian militants during the second Palestinian Intifada (uprising) beginning in 2000.
Israel must convene immediately, form a policy and bring it to the cabinet's approval as soon as possible, said the transportation minister.
"There is not right way to deal with the issue of a Hamas government in Gaza. There is need for an urgent cabinet meeting to determine our policy against the Hamas government. The current reality is that Israeli deterrence is wearing out," said Mofaz.
It turns out that Israel's policy -- cutting the supply of goods, electricity and water -- is failing to yield the desired results, he said, adding that "it appears that we are the ones acting like the ones interested in a truce, not Hamas. This approach and policy is wrong."
Mofaz went on to say that "I don't support reoccupying Gaza at the current period of time, but we must operate and deal with the Hamas leaders. Are they allowed to violate (the truce) while we are not allowed to defend our citizens against kidnappings and injuries?"
"And when we do operate, we get a wave of missiles on Ashkelon and Qassam rockets and mortar shells in response," the transportation minister added.
OLMERT VOWS TO RESTORE CALM IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL
Also on Sunday, Olmert said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting that Israel would work to restore calm in the south of the Jewish state.
"We are not eager to fight, but we do not fear a battle. In any event, we shall not tolerate the price tag the terror organizations are attempting to set. We have operated and will continue to target those violating the truce," Olmert was quoted by Ynet as saying.
The premier added that he had instructed the heads of the security establishment to present to him "as soon as possible" their suggestions for a plan of action should the truce fall apart.
Any vital policy change will go to Israel's security cabinet for approval which is expected to meet later this week.
In response to Olmert's remarks, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said "The side violating the truce time after time is the Israelis who took operation on Palestinian territory and killed Palestinians from the air."
"The Israeli threats and operations will not prevent Hamas and the other organizations from responding," he added.
Two hours before the cabinet meeting, two Qassam rockets were fired from Gaza, landing near a kibbutz in the Eshkol Regional Council. The Israel Air Force attacked a Qassam launching cell in response, killing four gunmen and injuring at least six.
The gunmen belong to the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), a military group loyal to Islamic Hamas movement which controls Gaza and observes a ceasefire with Israel.
Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the PRC, vowed to respond to the Israeli escalation. "For us, the lull is over and we won't renew it... we will respond in every time and every place."
The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, which took effect in June, was left near collapse since the new wave of violence erupted on Nov. 4. The latest airstrike brings the number of Palestinians killed in the violence to 14.
Both sides had generally honored the truce before the recent flare-up, and Israeli officials have voiced willingness to extend the ceasefire after its initial six-month phase which expires next month.
Meanwhile, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, an advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told reporters on Sunday that Abbas would ask Olmert in their forthcoming meeting scheduled for Monday in Jerusalem to maintain the truce between Israel and Gaza militants.
"President Abbas would ask Prime Minister Olmert to exert every possible effort to put an end to the deterioration of security in Gaza in order to end the Gaza population suffering," said Abu Rudeineh.
Source:Xinhua
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