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Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Archives)
Last update - 17:44 09/11/2008
Barak: Israel should consider firing back at Qassam launchers
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: ehud barak, Gaza 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak urged the cabinet on Sunday to consider discussing in its next session the use of counter fire in response to the Qassam rockets being launched at the Negev from the Gaza Strip.

During a debate on the matter of reinforcing Gaza-area homes, Barak suggested that the matter of responsive fire be raised during the cabinet's next meeting on Wednesday.

The defense minister stressed that the most recent Israel Defense Forces operation, which was carried out to destroy a tunnel from the coastal territory believed to be intended for abducting soldiers, was a "defensive raid."
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"The operation does not give the Palestinian organizations justification for breaching the calm," he said.

Barak was referring to the barrage of Qassam rockets which were launched following the raid. IDF and Israel Air Force troops killed at least six Hamas gunmen and one Islamic Jihad militant during the operations.

In response, militants in Gaza fired 35 rockets at Israel on Wednesday and four each on Thursday and Friday.


Barak told cabinet ministers that should a discussion of the sort being held in the cabinet, he would like to see Attorney General Menachem Mazuz present to discuss the legal ramifications of response fire.

Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer added that during this discussion, ministers must also consider the legal aspects of cutting off electricity to the Gaza Strip.

Vice Premier Haim Ramon proposed holding an expansive debate regarding Israel's policy on the cease-fire with the Gaza Strip.

"The calm was called for a limited period and that time is running out," he said.

The special cabinet session called for Wednesday is thus far intended for debate on reinforcing homes in western Negev communities against rocket fire.

It is not clear why Barak chose to raise the subject of counter fire during that debate, considering that such a move would be in violation of the five-month old cease-fire.

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      1.   All talk 17:11  |  Dudka 09/11/08
      2.   A State of War 17:23  |  David LG 09/11/08
      3.   We should be like other nations - fire back 17:29  |  JoeSittizen 09/11/08
      4.   Barak is a real peace of work 17:37  |  raids gaza 09/11/08
      5.   Surreal 17:39  |  Ofer 09/11/08
      6.   Response 17:45  |  Dan 09/11/08
      7.   Shouldn`t a government which is constantly at war 17:50  |  Jon 09/11/08
      8.   Israel Should consider firing back 17:52  |  Steve Gure 09/11/08
      9.   Dear Barak, the truce has already been violated 17:57  |  Great White North 09/11/08
      10.   Israel should consider firing back at Qassam launchers 17:58  |  Tova M. 09/11/08
      11.   this is barack spin for the election 18:07  |  dovdevan 09/11/08
      12.   Responsive fire? How hilarious. 18:12  |  Lou Medel 09/11/08
      13.   Barak is worse than Amir Peretz, and he is an israeli-arab! 18:15  |  JP 09/11/08
      14.   To Raids in Gaza 18:18  |  David LG 09/11/08
      15.   Give Hamas a 2 for 1 sale 18:23  |  Conroy 09/11/08
      16.   Afraid of what?! 18:31  |  Akiva P 09/11/08
      17.   Why Consider..... 18:37  |  Eric C 09/11/08
      18.   Send back Kassam for Kassam 18:37  |  Tigerheart 09/11/08
      19.   The irresistable temptation 18:38  |  Natallie Durson 09/11/08
      20.   "Should consider"? 18:38  |  Arie 09/11/08
      21.   Israel should consider firing Barak,he doesNOT defend Israel 18:46  |  sam 09/11/08
      22.   FIRING BACK AT MISSILE LAUNCH CREWS 18:50  |  CHARLIE ROME 09/11/08
      23.   Barak is losing it! he has always fired back at 18:59  |  qassam launchers 09/11/08
      24.   Any "normal" country would fire back 19:35  |  Murray of Montreal 09/11/08
      25.   WOW, fire back, what a concept! 19:36  |  Jon 09/11/08
      26.   Israeli needs citizen militia armed with our own mobile rockets 19:52  |  AniAshkeloni 09/11/08
      27.   Natallie`s Evil Little Word Games 19:55  |  Brad 09/11/08
      28.   #19 Natalie Durson - Much more accurate 20:09  |  Jon 09/11/08
      29.   Israeli Courts 20:09  |  Ron 09/11/08
      30.   # 19 Natalie Durson - Much more accurate part 2 20:09  |  Jon 09/11/08
      31.   qassams 20:15  |  Harry 09/11/08
      32.   dont consider, just do it 20:37  |  vik 09/11/08
      33.   Nataniahu will stop QASSAMS by responsive actions. 20:44  |  Vittorio 09/11/08
      34.   Instantly Kill Everyone Near Launch Sites, Within Operational Ran 20:48  |  UsedToPostHere 09/11/08
      35.   Barack is so full of it 20:52  |  rm 09/11/08
      36.   AniAshkeloni you already got that 20:55  |  the squatters 09/11/08
      37.   To Nattallie Durson 21:12  |  David LG 09/11/08
      38.   Is everyone mad there? 21:46  |  thinking clearly 09/11/08
      39.   Mr.Barak, mulling over responding to Qasams. 22:03  |  Stephen. 09/11/08
      40.   Barak: `Israel should consider......" 22:06  |  Dagma 09/11/08
      41.   Any rocket fire should be autmatically answered ...... 22:13  |  bernard ross 09/11/08
      42.   thinking clearly 22:29  |  sharon 09/11/08
      43.   funny 23:01  |  eric 09/11/08
      44.   Israel should consider firing back at Qassam launchers 23:24  |  Bron In The USA 09/11/08
      45.   Incredibly Deceptive Wording 23:41  |  Sarah 09/11/08
      46.   WAR CRIME 00:03  |  Saadeh 10/11/08
      47.   The most astonishing chutzpah 00:38  |  Johnboy 10/11/08
      48.   Barak has a big mouth 00:53  |  Dwido 10/11/08
      49.   Astonishing Idiocy - Even for Barak 01:01  |  Tod Zuckerman 10/11/08
      50.   thanks sarah..i thought barak was losing it since 01:38  |  he always fires back 10/11/08
      51.   Is it already forgotten what caused this 02:00  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/08
      52.   to Gnatallie Durson 02:08  |  judith 10/11/08
      53.   should consider???!!!!!1 02:30  |  james 10/11/08
      54.   leftist cowards have turned israel into another warsaw ghetto 02:52  |  chaim 10/11/08
      55.   Just take a look at that photo... 03:02  |  Silvienne 10/11/08
      56.   #26, Ani wants to see his country in a civil war... 03:06  |  Silvienne 10/11/08
      57.   NO DAH!THEY SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED AND DONE IT LONG AGO! 03:18  |  glenna 10/11/08
      58.   To #55 03:29  |  Boris 10/11/08
      59.   Silvienne, you deserve Lieberman as Senator. 03:37  |  Akiva P 10/11/08
      60.   #56 Silvienne: Let`s talk about your American rockets 03:43  |  AniAshkeloni 10/11/08
      61.   Why not respond with an artillary shell for each rocket fired? 18:05  |  Murray of Montreal 10/11/08
      62.   Bomb Before Obama 18:20  |  Dumb American 10/11/08
      63.   Too civilized. 18:34  |  War is War 10/11/08
      64.   #60, Ani..... 19:26  |  Silvienne 10/11/08
      65.   There used to be a poster here.... 22:02  |  Nemesis 10/11/08
      66.   #63, WAR ISA WAR, and israel needs to realise 09:26  |  VIPER 11/11/08
      67.   This weak government has to go 13:14  |  Jerusalem Jew 17/11/08
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