Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., January 07, 2009 Tevet 11, 5769 | | Israel Time: 10:59 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  37
Last update - 09:56 07/01/2009
Israel to establish 'humanitarian corridor' for the Gaza Strip
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza, Israel News, Hamas 

Israel will set up a "humanitarian corridor" to counter a crisis caused by its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said on Wednesday.

The PM's office said the measure was proposed by Israel Defense Forces leaders and would entail granting periodic access to various areas of the strips to allow Palestinians to stock up on vital goods.

Olmert told Haaretz on Tuesday that Israel has no interest in a prolonged offensive on the Gaza Strip.
Advertisement
"The sooner, the better," he said when asked when the army planned to end its operation. "We did not set out to occupy Gaza or kill every terrorist. We set out to bring change to the south."



Olmert on Tuesday visited a number of southern towns recently battered by rockets, and met with residents, municipal leaders, and wounded Israel Defense Forces soldiers hospitalized at Soroka in Be'er Sheva.

The prime minister told Haaretz that he was in contact with numerous world leaders working toward a diplomatic solution for the crisis between Israel and Gaza.

"There are different ideas for a diplomatic solution," he said. "I am currently in discussions regarding them with many leaders around the world."

"The result must me an effective blockading of the Philadelphi Route, with supervision and follow-ups," the prime minister added, referring to the area between Gaza and Egypt where militants have been digging tunnels for smuggling weapons and guerillas.

The prime minister also said that Israel did not oppose the United Nations' efforts to find a solution to the crisis, but stressed that "we need an active solution, and that's what we are working toward."

Regarding the situation of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive by Gaza militants since June 2006, Olmert said: "We are in contact with the Shalit family. I have not spoken to them about it personally in the last few days, but the matter is being dealt with.

On a visit to the Osem factory in Sderot, Olmert emphasized that Israel did not want to reoccupy Gaza. "Hamas has received an unprecedented blow to its strength."

"There is no state that would absorb [so many rockets] and continue to bite its lip and restrain itself," he added. "All those chiding us around the world today would have responded with even more strength and cruelty were they in our place."

Earlier Tuesday,Olmert rejected the European Union's request for a 48-hour "humanitarian" cease-fire with Hamas.

The prime minister told the group of visiting European foreign ministers that Israel was "tired of gestures," as the Israel Defense Forces continued its ground offensive deep into the Gaza Strip.

"We honored the cease-fire despite being fired at on a daily basis," Olmert said. "Now is the time for action. We are ready for a cease-fire only in exchange for actions, not empty words."

Meanwhile, President Shimon Peres told senior European Union politicians during their talks Tuesday that their nations should support Israel in its offensive in Gaza to halt rocket attacks by Hamas militants.

"Europe needs to open its eyes with respect to the fighting in Gaza," the president said. He made the comments in a meeting with Czech Foreign Minister Karl Schwarzenberg, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, and Benita Ferraro-Waldner, the European Union Commissioner for External Relations.

"None of the European countries would tolerate rocket fire on their citizens, and they must understand that Hamas is a terror organization of the worst order that uses its population of women and children as human shields," Peres added.

Related articles:
  • ANALYSIS / The price of stubbornness over Gaza exit is dead soldiers
  • ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of Gaza
  • ANALYSIS / The unspoken goal of bringing down Hamas in Gaza
  • 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  
     
    'With total determination'
    Widow of IDF soldier killed Monday remembers her fallen hero.
    Echoes of Gaza
    Protests against Gaza op worldwide have had a hateful, violent tone.
      1.   Spinning out the analogies 13:35  |  Neil 06/01/09
      2.   Europe wouldn`t tolerate being occupied either. 13:51  |  Jens 06/01/09
      3.   UK and Isreal didn`t tolarate Egypts blockade in 1957 13:57  |  Tupac 06/01/09
      4.   treat hamas as equal partners 13:57  |  mahmud ali 06/01/09
      5.   A people must tolerate and accept occupation 14:05  |  k 06/01/09
      6.   Of course Europe wont tolerate the rockets 14:18  |  Ned 06/01/09
      7.   Neil is absolutely right! 14:22  |  James 06/01/09
      8.   Even Peres is making sense now 14:24  |  Avi 06/01/09
      9.   not surprising 14:28  |  ross 06/01/09
      10.   Europe must open its eyes 14:42  |  Bo Frank 06/01/09
      11.   They wouldn`t give a reason 15:45  |  Mart 06/01/09
      12.   Europe would not tolerate Israeli settlements either 15:55  |  JK 06/01/09
      13.   1-7: So you are pro war 15:58  |  message from Greece 06/01/09
      14.   OLMERT should be arrested and let Bibi take over 17:28  |  Lou Knee 06/01/09
      15.   nonsense 18:52  |  Michael 06/01/09
      16.   thank you JK 18:58  |  flimflam 06/01/09
      17.   Gaza offensive 19:06  |  Bala 06/01/09
      18.   to mahmud ali #4 19:24  |  zeev 06/01/09
      19.   But the cardinal question is: 19:37  |  Esther 06/01/09
      20.   The same Europeans. 19:46  |  4:20 06/01/09
      21.   mahmud #4... you are right... and Hamas must 19:47  |  Esther 06/01/09
      22.   Re k #5... it goes in both directions... 19:52  |  Esther 06/01/09
      23.   Precondition to peace - Gilad Shalit has to be freed 20:23  |  Harry 06/01/09
      24.   #20, how do you know? 21:13  |  Fritz T. 06/01/09
      25.   Breeding revenge 21:37  |  Aaron 06/01/09
      26.   Comparing Israeli and European response 22:33  |  Laura Fragiacomo 06/01/09
      27.   It`s 1938 and Iran is Germany 22:34  |  Stephanie 06/01/09
      28.   #1 Neil 03:50  |  Brian 07/01/09
      29.   17. Gaza Offensive 03:53  |  Jeffrey 07/01/09
      30.   #26. Comparing Israeli and European Response 04:06  |  Jeffrey 07/01/09
      31.   #27 Bibi wants to go to brink, does Israel? 04:08  |  Brian 07/01/09
      32.   #26 you have lost touch with reality 04:09  |  sm 07/01/09
      33.   #32 She sounds very sensible to me, sm 05:55  |  Johnboy 07/01/09
      34.   GAZA-2009 should be a LESSON for gangs like HAMAS,HEZB. et al. 06:38  |  Vittorio 07/01/09
      35.   #4, mahmud ali, hamas is a terror proxy of iran 08:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/01/09
      36.   #26, Laura Fragiacomo 08:39  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/01/09
      37.   #13 Another message from Greece 08:53  |  Hastaroth 07/01/09
     Read & React
    Bradley Burston / A Jew's prayer for the children of Gaza
    Send response
    IDF: Shelled UN school in Gaza used as hideout by Hamas
    Responses: 43
    ANALYSIS / Using aggressive tactics in Gaza to save soldiers' lives
    Responses: 11
    Venezuela's Chavez: Gaza operation is a Palestinian 'holocaust'
    Responses: 12
    Amira Hass: Lucky my parents aren't alive to see Israel bomb Gaza
    Responses: 9


    More Headlines
    10:19 IDF battles Palestinian gunmen throughout Gaza
    10:58 Rocket hits Ashkelon yard, as Gaza cross-border fire continues
    10:22 Peres: We don't want Gaza Strip cease-fire, but cease of terror
    10:41 A Jew's prayer for the children of Gaza
    09:05 IDF: Hamas militants fired shells from inside UN school in Gaza
    06:03 ANALYSIS / Using aggressive tactics in Gaza to save soldiers' lives
    10:42 PA's Abbas: Gaza Strip cease-fire on both sides is needed
    09:43 ANALYSIS / Israel must double, triple, quadruple its medical aid to Gaza
    18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email
    10:06 As truce efforts grow, Israel mulls expanding Gaza ground op
    09:56 Israel to establish 'humanitarian corridor' for the Gaza Strip
    09:57 Obama breaks silence on Gaza, voices 'deep concern' over civilian deaths
    09:04 Ex-Saddam aide says former Iraqi leader would've stopped IDF Gaza op
    07:52 Al-Qaida No. 2 slams Obama for failing to stop IDF op in Gaza
    07:49 Venezuelan President Chavez: Gaza operation is a Palestinian 'holocaust'
    09:03 IDF officer: 'It will take many years to restore' bomb-wracked Gaza
    04:23 Fighting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the Internet
    07:22 U.K.-born Israeli soldier has close brush with death during Gaza option
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    You can make a direct IMPACT!
    on the life of an Israeli soldier
    State of Israel Bonds
    During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Academic Studies in Israel
    All the Q & A at the IDC HERZLIYA Open House, January 9,2009
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved