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Barak, Livni and Lieberman address a raucous Knesset By Shahar Ilan The leaders of Kadima, Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu attended a raucous Knesset plenum meeting yesterday as the Israel Defense Forces Operation Cast Lead continued in Gaza. Labor leader and Defense Minister Ehud Barak addressed the Knesset, saying the operation in Gaza will "be expanded and extended as much as necessary." Advertisement Barak defined the operations goals as "dealing a severe blow to Hamas and changing the situation in the south." During his speech, Barak recalled the visit by U.S. president-elect Barack Obama to the Qassam-stricken town of Sderot before he was elected. The defense minister quoted Obama as saying "I would do anything to stop [a gunner]" to which he said he replied: "That's exactly what we're doing." Barak told Knesset members: "We've implemented the conclusions from what happened on the home front during the Second Lebanon War. The embarrassing scenes of tent cities set up by philanthropists shall not return and the state will not cast off its responsibilities. Those in need of a respite or who want to send their children away from the fighting will be able to do so in an orderly fashion." Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declined to address the Knesset because of Speaker Dalia Itzik's refusal to defer the debate. "I thought it was impossible that this debate be held at press conferences and on other stages and that the Knesset should ignore it," Itzik said. During her speech, Kadima leader and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni placed the onus for the escalation in violence on Hamas. "Anyone who gave support or shelter to Hamas is now paying the price," Livni said. "Anyone who has any complaints about the situation over the [Palestinian] population's condition should address them to Hamas, which is holding them hostage." Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Removing the rocket threat to Israel will require the toppling of Hamas." Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman accused Israeli Arab lawmakers of being a "fifth column" and said they should be "exiled" for "carrying out acts of treason at a time of war and betraying those sitting here in the Knesset." Israeli Arab MK Ahmed Tibi (Ra'am-Ta'al) responded to the hawkish politician by calling him a "fascist" and telling him to "go back from where you came from." Also, MK Talab al-Sana was removed from the plenum by Itzik after repeatedly interrupting Lieberman's speech. MK Jamal Zahalka of the Arab nationalist Balad party boycotted the meeting, saying he was not willing to take part in a "celebration of death." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Iranian Jews protest Members of Tehran's small Jewish community demonstrate against IDF operation in Gaza. Missile's view Watch Israel's attack on Gaza from the perspective of the missile.

Read & React Rockets fired from Gaza kill 2 Israelis within hour Responses: 224 ANALYSIS / Hamas is hoping for an IDF ground operation Responses: 135 Grossman / Is Israel imprisoned in the ceremony of war? Responses: 117 Prolonged Gaza operation spells trouble for Israel Responses: 46 Chicago synagogue firebombed; police probe possible link to Gaza violence Responses: 36 More Headlines 00:36 Gaza rockets strike Be'er Sheva area for first time 23:43 Olmert: Gaza offensive to go on until Israel's aims achieved 00:23 IAF unleashes massive strike on Hamas tunnel network near Rafah 23:57 Barak asks cabinet to approve emergency call-up of 2,520 reservists 21:17 ANALYSIS / Hamas is hoping for an IDF ground operation in Gaza 00:11 Ex-U.S. Army engineer Kadish pleads guilty to spying for Israel 22:21 WATCH: Israel's attack on Gaza from the missiles' viewpoint 16:50 IN PICTURES / Firestorm over Gaza 00:45 VIDEO / Mubarak: We'll open Gaza crossing only if PA takes control 22:23 Quartet calls for immediate truce between Israel and Gaza 22:22 IDF war games predict look of Gaza ground operation 21:05 Iran clerics recruit Islamist fighters to aid Hamas' battle against Israel 22:29 Israeli boy, 3, lightly wounded by Palestinian stone-throwers 17:04 Elder child of Chabad Mumbai attack victims dies of long-term illness 02:09 Throngs at Ashdod funeral mark 'war against Israeli normalcy' 02:17 Mayor of rocket-battered Netivot calls for talks with Hamas Previous Editions Select Day 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 22 dec 21 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec

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