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Last update - 01:07 26/12/2008
Barak warns: Hamas will pay a 'heavy price'
By News Agencies
Tags: Israel News, Ehud Olmert 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned on Thursday that militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip would pay a heavy price if they continued to target Israel, as the Israeli military wrapped up preparations for a possible large-scale assault on the coastal territory.

In Cairo, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak urged Israel to show restraint in his meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, an Israeli official said. Livni insisted that Israel would respond to protect its citizens.

On Wednesday, Palestinian militants pummeled southern Israel from Gaza with more than 80 rockets and mortar shells, causing no injuries but generating widespread panic. Cabinet ministers approved a broad invasion of Gaza, defense officials told The Associated Press.
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"We will not accept this situation," Barak warned on Thursday. "Whoever harms the citizens and soldiers of Israel will pay a heavy price."

He did not elaborate. But defense officials, speaking on condition on anonymity because they were not permitted to discuss the plans, said the Israeli operation would likely begin with surgical airstrikes against rocket launchers and continue with a land invasion. Harsh weather conditions are hampering visibility and complicating air force missions, so the operation won't be launched until the skies clear, they added.

Meanwhile Thursday, outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert urged Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to reject their Hamas rulers and warned he would not hesitate to use force to stop them from firing rockets at southern Israel.

"Hamas is firing on us and on the power station meant to give Gaza electricity. Stop them. Stop your enemy and ours," Olmert said in an interview with Al Arabiya television, according to his office.

"I will not hesitate to use Israel's might to strike Hamas and [Islamic] Jihad. How? I will not go into details now," the prime minister said in an appeal carried by the Arab news broadcaster which is widely watched in Gaza.

The premier was further quoted as saying: "Israel left Gaza about three years ago with no intention of returning... Is the spirit of Islam to kill innocent children, to fire rockets at kindergartens and civilians? I don't think that is the spirit of Islam.

"That Hamas does this in opposition to the spirit of Islam is the main reason for your suffering, and ours. I say to you in a last minute call, stop it. You, the residents of Gaza, can stop it."


Related articles:
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  • Livni tells Mubarak: We'll act to halt Gaza rocket fire
  • Report: Egypt won't object to short IDF offensive in Gaza
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      1.   Prepare a change 13:35  |  Chris 25/12/08
      2.   Olmert is delusional 13:37  |  Chris Linthwaite 25/12/08
      3.   To Olmert & Co. 13:45  |  S Awaad 25/12/08
      4.   It`s good to see islam is finally mentioned 13:58  |  Johnny 25/12/08
      5.   To S Awaad & Co 14:19  |  A mother 25/12/08
      6.   Well spoken Olmert! - Bravo! 14:28  |  Alicia 25/12/08
      7.   Johnny 14:28  |  A mother 25/12/08
      8.   Gazans, YOU decide, what it`s gonna be 14:35  |  Alicia 25/12/08
      9.   He won`t hesitate? Hahahahahahahaha! 14:43  |  Murray of Montreal 25/12/08
      10.   We urging Olmert to get home 14:48  |  Daniel 25/12/08
      11.   Israel`s tchnological capabilities 15:07  |  Justin 25/12/08
      12.   Laser Technology 15:10  |  Justin 25/12/08
      13.   HOW? 15:30  |  Ian 25/12/08
      14.   Open Gaza`s passages Mr. Olmert, its population is dying! 15:32  |  Moise 25/12/08
      15.   Olmert won`t hesitate to use strength?? 15:37  |  Brian 25/12/08
      16.   Really Mr. Olmert......... 15:38  |  The Threadmill 25/12/08
      17.   Gaza, for all practical purposes is an independent state and this 15:51  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 25/12/08
      18.   S.Awaad 16:02  |  Daniela 25/12/08
      19.   Another olmert excuse 16:15  |  Arie 25/12/08
      20.   To Alicia # 5 - You do not have to give Olmert CREDIT..... 16:17  |  Natasha 25/12/08
      21.   #3 16:26  |  wroong 25/12/08
      22.   Well done, Mr Prime Minister 16:48  |  Morris Valentine 25/12/08
      23.   #1 Chris 16:53  |  Poco Loco 25/12/08
      24.   TIME FOR A REAL WAR WITH HAMASS 16:54  |  jewish DOCTOR 25/12/08
      25.   Awad thanks, you just uncovered a boneless and corrupted leader 16:56  |  Simon 25/12/08
      26.   To Chris 1, Chris 2 and Awaad 17:09  |  IW 25/12/08
      27.   S.Awaad, bombs and artillery are fired from a disatnce. They dont 17:22  |  Jack 25/12/08
      28.   Olmert urges Gazans to reject their Hamas.. 17:31  |  Rabbi SH.I. Popack 25/12/08
      29.   Hamas and their PA supporters attack Israel because Israel exists 17:40  |  Elie 25/12/08
      30.   To awaad: free elections 17:46  |  Arie 25/12/08
      31.   Awad: If other Gazand share your attitude, they also should share 17:49  |  Vittorio 25/12/08
      32.   Gazans support hamas 17:51  |  real vision 25/12/08
      33.   For every fine cat, a fine rat 17:51  |  Natallie Durson 25/12/08
      34.   how so, please? 18:00  |  Space 25/12/08
      35.   Churchill`s appeal to Germans would have shortened the WW2 18:02  |  Absolute Sweden 25/12/08
      36.   #14 Moise; Israel has not stopped hum.aid to Gaza 18:02  |  Alicia 25/12/08
      37.   Threat #886754234 18:21  |  David Scott 25/12/08
      38.   #20 Natasha, you`re welcome 18:28  |  Alicia 25/12/08
      39.   Better Do It Quickly 18:39  |  crlman 25/12/08
      40.   The Palestinians have a right to protect their people too 18:40  |  Dutch 25/12/08
      41.   Hamas is trapped in its crazy ideology 18:40  |  Jean Van Daem 25/12/08
      42.   Olmert 18:45  |  MR 25/12/08
      43.   It will be very helpful to appeal to Sudan to stop Darfur genocid 18:46  |  Genuine Tosefta 25/12/08
      44.   Talking does not prevent rocket attacks 18:46  |  Brod 25/12/08
      45.   Please, cool down and act! 18:50  |  Vital 25/12/08
      46.   To Morris Valentine # 22 - Don`t be silly..... 18:59  |  Honesty 25/12/08
      47.   I have always wondered 19:20  |  Mark Lincoln 25/12/08
      48.   I don`t know about that Absolute Sweden but 19:34  |  Mark Lincoln 25/12/08
      49.   Better Do It Quickly 19:40  |  Mark Lincoln 25/12/08
      50.   How many times have we heard these empty threats? 19:41  |  Judea 25/12/08
      51.   Barak Full of Hot Air 19:42  |  Baruch Gold 25/12/08
      52.   what a plan olmert!! bore them to death!! 19:42  |  sneaky yahoodi 25/12/08
      53.   Mark Lincoln #35 19:58  |  MR 25/12/08
      54.   Barak also warned Hizbollah 20:14  |  Boruch 25/12/08
      55.   Absolute 20:31  |  Kimmo 25/12/08
      56.   What is the heavy price - turning your cheek again? 20:32  |  Gilbert 25/12/08
      57.   To Alicia @ 30 - Thank you for yours..... 20:33  |  Natasha 25/12/08
      58.   Cluster Bombs in Southern Lebanon 21:16  |  Mohammed Ali 25/12/08
      59.   i have a parakeet...she lives in a cage 21:21  |  not kosher 25/12/08
      60.   Last time Barak threatened...... he ran away from S. Lebanon 21:29  |  israeli 25/12/08
      61.   Personally........ 21:45  |  SUNDAY 25/12/08
      62.   What exactly are cicilians in Gaza expected to do? 21:47  |  Fortuna Benmayor 25/12/08
      63.   Pssst, Hamas: 21:48  |  Harry 25/12/08
      64.   Barak Is part of Hammas 21:54  |  Joe 25/12/08
      65.   `I will not go into deals now... "says Olmert .... 22:06  |  Diagnostic 25/12/08
      66.   Responsding with a barrage of news conferences 22:34  |  Nathaniel 25/12/08
      67.   MR - a blast from the past 22:39  |  Mark Lincoln 25/12/08
      68.   A Mother 22:56  |  John 25/12/08
      69.   2020 23:09  |  Farid 25/12/08
      70.   Pssst, Harry 23:34  |  Hamas 25/12/08
      71.   Re. What exactly are cicilians in Gaza expected to do? 23:41  |  Barry 25/12/08
      72.   #22, Morris Valentine 23:45  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/12/08
      73.   No more talking 00:20  |  Brod 26/12/08
      74.   can somebody please tell me what livni was doinf befor politics? 00:35  |  whore who? 26/12/08
      75.   Barak Sounds Like Nasrallah Or Zahar-- 00:41  |  Jeff Northridge 26/12/08
      76.   Barry # 71, thanks for the chuckle. 01:02  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/12/08
      77.   For Boruch # 54 01:04  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/12/08
      78.   Is it that hard to address Gazan`s suffering?? 01:15  |  DMS 26/12/08
      79.   thanks to barak, hamass already paying a heavy price 01:44  |  Arie 26/12/08
      80.   Hamas Will Pay a Heavy Price!!!! 02:16  |  ROBOCOP 26/12/08
      81.   Barak is a fool who should resign immediately 02:31  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 26/12/08
      82.   #72 Cipora Julianna Kohn, unfortunately you are right 02:41  |  Mark B. 26/12/08
      83.   70, Hamas 02:41  |  Harry 26/12/08
      84.   joe 64! 03:05  |  John and the truth 26/12/08
      85.   70 hamas pssst 03:08  |  alan 26/12/08
      86.   #33: Natalie Durson you missed the point as always 03:35  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 26/12/08
      87.   #40 dutch 03:58  |  Samk 26/12/08
      88.   #33 Durson 04:02  |  Samk 26/12/08
      89.   #80, Mark B 07:10  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/12/08
      90.   To CJK (#72) 20:11  |  Morris Valentine 26/12/08
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