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Last update - 10:53 25/12/2008
Leftist Meretz issues rare call for military action against Hamas
By Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Gaza, Hamas 

The left-wing Meretz party on Thursday issued a rare call for military action against Hamas in order to bring an end to cross-border attacks on Israel by Gaza militants.

"The time has come to act without compromise and without narrow political considerations to protect the residents of Gaza-area communities and Sderot," the party relayed on Thursday.

Meretz, which usually calls for negotiation and dialogue with Palestinian militants, said the current escalation in rocket attacks has left Israel with no choice but to work on two fronts simultaneously.
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"Strike Hamas in a targeted manner and work for a new cease-fire," it said.

The statement from Meretz came as the defense establishment was preparing for a military move against Hamas targets in Gaza, after the Islamist group launched more than 80 rockets into Israel on Wednesday.

The upsurge in violence also drew responses from Israel's political leadership on Thursday.

Defense Minister and Labor Chairman Ehud Barak warned that Israel will respond to attacks on its citizens.

"This is not the time for talk, [but] we cannot accept the situation that has been created. The single thing I can say this morning is that anyone who hurts Israel's citizens and Israel Defense Forces soldiers will pay the price," Barak said on Thursday.

Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tzahi Hanegbi, for his part, threatened Gaza militants with a response similar to Israel's 2006 invasion of Lebanon if they did not cease the attacks.

"If the Qassam [rocket] fire does not stop, the Israel Defense Forces will fight you with the same might with which it fought Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War," said Hanegbi (Kadima), speaking to Army Radio.


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      1.   A great example 10:48  |  Ofer 25/12/08
      2.   There is nothing to negotiate about and no-one with whom to 10:55  |  Dubi 25/12/08
      3.   meretz opts for military activity 11:59  |  harzion 25/12/08
      4.   Re: a great example (No. 1) 12:09  |  Meretz supporter 25/12/08
      5.   same might with which it fought Hezbollah 12:26  |  Chaim 25/12/08
      6.   Oh my goodness, what happened to them? 13:24  |  Harvey 25/12/08
      7.   Are they finally seeing reality? 15:32  |  Michael 25/12/08
      8.   meretz is dead 16:22  |  Arie 25/12/08
      9.   I agree with the general position now 18:09  |  Robert Haymond 25/12/08
      10.   The handicapped population of Sderot have also the right to live. 18:58  |  Jean Van Daem 25/12/08
      11.   Is Meretz Vietnam Braindead? 18:59  |  AlittleJusticeAthome 25/12/08
      12.   Meretz is a Joke that is not funny! 19:51  |  Baruch Gold 25/12/08
      13.   Meretz, this is all your fault. 20:02  |  judith 25/12/08
      14.   Look out! 21:10  |  Mark Lincoln 25/12/08
      15.   Reply to Ofer (1) - Spot On 21:31  |  Tod Zuckerman 25/12/08
      16.   Give up Sderot, Askelon etc.... 22:28  |  Libra 25/12/08
      17.   are they finally coming to their senses. 00:24  |  ralph 26/12/08
      18.   #16 Libra 01:20  |  JoJo 26/12/08
      19.   Way to deal with Hamas.... 01:43  |  US CITIZEN 26/12/08
      20.   "With the same might with which it fought Hezbollah" 06:48  |  JuNoZionist 26/12/08
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