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Foreign Min. starts massive PR move to raise int'l support By Barak Ravid The Foreign Ministry yesterday began a broad range of public relations initiatives in order to boost international legitimacy for the Israel Air Force's operations in the Gaza Strip. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni called several of her counterparts around the world, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the foreign ministers of Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana. Advertisement "Hamas made a mistake when it thought Israel was weak and would not respond to the Qassam rocket fire," Livni told her counterparts by phone. "Israel will do whatever it takes to protect its citizens and end the rocket fire." The White House yesterday responded to the events in Gaza, urging both sides not to harm citizens, yet refrained from calling on Israel to cease its strikes. However, it called on Hamas to stop firing Qassam rockets at Israel. Solana called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza yesterday. "We are very worried about the situation and ask both sides to show maximum restraint," he said. Russia, too, issued a statement calling on both sides to hold their fire. Livni authorized Foreign Ministry officials to carry out an emergency contingency plan drawn up for a military operation in Gaza, and instructed officials to campaign aggressively abroad on behalf of Israel. Their key arguments will be that Hamas violated the cease-fire, leading to the recent events, and thus is responsible for the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza. In addition, they will state that Israel has shown great restraint and sustained incessant attacks before deciding to respond. In addition, they will stress that Israel will work to avoid a humanitarian crisis or civilian casualties. The Foreign Ministry has enlisted spokesmen fluent in Arabic, Italian, Spanish and German to address foreign journalists in Israel. Today it will open an international communications center and organize tours for foreign media representatives and diplomats in Sderot and nearby communities, which have been indiscriminately targeted by Palestinian militants with Qassam rockets and mortar shells for years. Sderot was first hit by Qassam rockets, named after a Islamic militant killed in the 1930s, in 2002. Since then the rockets' range, accuracy and payloads have increased. Israeli civilians living near the Gaza Strip live in constant fear of injury or death from the rockets and mortar shells. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bombing protest A suicide bomber blows himself up amid an anti-Israel protest in Iraq. Underground medicine Ashkelon's hospital moves essential departments into an underground bomb shelter.

Read & React Gazans breach Egypt border as IAF hits more than 40 Gaza smuggling tunnels Responses: 251 Bradley Burston: Gaza war: The worst anti-Israel charges you'll hear Responses: 124 Disinformation, secrecy and lies: How the Gaza offensive came about Responses: 114 Iran orders all Muslims to defend Palestinians against Israeli raids Responses: 104 Gideon Levy: The neighborhood bully strikes again Responses: 91 More Headlines 00:42 In response to Gaza raids, Hamas threatens to assassinate Livni, Barak 23:18 Hezbollah: Israel may take this opportunity to attack Lebanon 22:48 In protest of Gaza attacks, Syria halts indirect talks with Israel 23:19 Anti-Israel protests over Gaza raids draw thousands across Europe 23:25 ADL slams UN condemnation of Israel Gaza op as 'sheer hypocrisy' 23:27 Suicide bomber kills 1, wounds 16 at protest against Gaza raids in Iraq 09:07 IN PICTURES / Israel strikes the Gaza Strip 00:10 Cost of calling up 6,700 reservists for Gaza op is NIS 3 million a day 23:33 Saudi cleric issues fatwa urging Muslims to avenge Gaza raids 20:31 Israeli Arabs protesting Gaza campaign clash with police 19:45 'Little Baghdad' in Gaza - bombs, fear and rage 22:11 Ashkelon hospital moves its essential departments underground 22:40 Two Katyusha rockets hit Ashdod area, Gaza militants' furthest target yet 19:46 UN Security Council calls for immediate halt to Gaza violence 23:54 Report: Amid Gaza op, IAF sets off sonic booms over Lebanon Previous Editions Select Day 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 22 dec 21 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 15 dec

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