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Peres: No Gaza truce right now, Hamas needs a 'real lesson'
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza, Hamas, Israel News 

President Shimon Peres on Sunday rejected the possibility of a cease-fire as the IDF pressed its offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, but said Israel does not intend to occupy Gaza.

"We don't intend neither to occupy Gaza nor to crush Hamas, but to crush terror. And Hamas needs a real and serious lesson. They are now getting it," Peres said in an interview on the ABC News program "This Week."



Peres also brushed aside the chances of a cease-fire to bring the fighting to a halt.

"We shall not accept the idea that Hamas will continue to fire and we shall declare a cease-fire. It does not make any sense," Peres said.

"We were careful. We were restrained. We waited. We gave them many chances," he said.

"They cannot explain why they are shooting...and they cannot hide that they are acting by orders from Iran. Iran has two satellites in the Middle East, the Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza."

Earlier Sunday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the Israel Defense Forces' ground invasion of the Gaza Strip was unavoidable.

"We did not reach this conclusion lightly," Olmert told his ministers at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

"For many months, we gave the cease-fire a chance in the hope of avoiding a wide-ranging military operation. Our hopes were dashed."

The prime minister added that the ground operation was "designed to establish our aspiration to change the security reality in the south."

"IDF forces have went into Gaza to strike at the military infrastructure that Hamas has established and to take control of the areas from which most of the missiles have been fired at Sderot, Ashkelon, and Ashdod."

Addressing mothers of IDF soldiers, the prime minister said his thoughts were constantly with them.

"I asked myself and my ministerial colleagues if there was some other step, outlet or effort that we had not yet tried before sending our boys into a place fraught with such risks ? from which some of them may not return," he said.

"Today I can look each and every one of you in the eye and say we did everything we could before launching this operation." Olmert added. "It was unavoidable."

Olmert further stated that Israel will not allow a humanitarian crisis to occur in Gaza.

"Israel is not fighting Palestinians living in Gaza. They are not our enemy. They are victims of violent and cruel oppression," he said.

"We will aid with food and medical supplies as any moral and enlightened country must."

Related articles:
  • IDF recommends major, but brief Gaza ground offensive
  • Livni: Gaza truce would give Hamas legitimacy
  • WATCH: Israeli ground assault in the Gaza Strip underway
  • Gaza invasion won't be short, and it won't be easy
  • Hamas: Gaza will become graveyard for Israeli troops
  • Israel okays call-up tens of thousands of IDF reservists
  • Hezbollah urges Hamas to 'kill as many Israeli soldiers as they can' during Gaza op
  • EU presidency: Israel ground op in Gaza 'defensive not offensive'
  • Tens of thousands rally across Europe against Israel's Gaza offensive
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Haute advice
    Sarkozy tells Peres IDF Gaza op does not strengthen Abbas.
    W speaks
    Bush says Israel has right to protect itself against Gaza attacks.
      1.   Someone gag that clown 14:41  |  Marilyn 04/01/09
      2.   olmert, the apologist 16:26  |  ben ordover 04/01/09
      3.   Hopefully an End To Hamas 18:32  |  supporter of Isreal 04/01/09
      4.   hezbullah should be next 18:37  |  Joe 04/01/09
      5.   marilyn in australia-what`s it like being alone 19:13  |  Arie 04/01/09
      6.   Why are we fighting? 19:14  |  Lemuel 04/01/09
      7.   Palestinian Blood is NOT CHEAP!! 19:14  |  Peaceful Soul 04/01/09
      8.   Real lesson? 19:15  |  Ben 04/01/09
      9.   The pals didn`t want a truce, got what they wanted 19:19  |  Adrian de Klerk 04/01/09
      10.   1, Marilyn 19:21  |  Harry 04/01/09
      11.   an athor lesson 19:21  |  taha 04/01/09
      12.   To #2 19:22  |  Joy 04/01/09
      13.   Kudos to the Government and People of Israel 19:22  |  Morris Valentine 04/01/09
      14.   Too late for lessons, Hamas needs to free Shalit, get another job 19:24  |  Realist 04/01/09
      15.   Peres, another ghoul! 19:25  |  Maureen Ann 04/01/09
      16.   Re: Peaceful Soul 20:02  |  Leri 04/01/09
      17.   dear oh me 20:03  |  Hamid Asifi 04/01/09
      18.   Go Israel! 00:33  |  d muntean 05/01/09
      19.   Marilyn is not alone Arie... 00:47  |  Michael Hess 05/01/09
      20.   The ones that don`t understand 09:19  |  Ron Bronstein 05/01/09
      21.   no reason? 14:10  |  pvdh 05/01/09
      22.   Citizens Might Vote for Peace 20:37  |  Jason Paz 05/01/09
      23.   Hopefully an End to Hamas? 01:38  |  Justin 06/01/09
      24.   Ron Bronstein 01:45  |  Justin 06/01/09
      25.   defense 01:51  |  Justin 06/01/09
      26.   Peace 01:54  |  Justin 06/01/09
     Read & React
    Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff: How much time does the IDF have left in Gaza?
    Responses: 75
    Sarkozy: Hamas to blame for suffering of Palestinians in Gaza
    Responses: 51
    Amira Hass: Wounded Gaza family lay bleeding for 20 hours
    Responses: 81
    'We lost our homes for nothing,' says reservist from former Gaza settlement
    Responses: 59
    Amir Oren: What's happening in Gaza is neither war nor occupation
    Responses: 35


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