Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., February 02, 2009 Shvat 8, 5769 | | Israel Time: 00:19 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage 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

Palestinian sources: IAF bombs Hamas targets in central Gaza By Amos Harel, Barak Ravid, Avi Issacharoff and Yanir Yagna Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip said late last night that Israeli aircraft had bombed Hamas security targets in central Gaza. Rafa residents said they received phone calls from the Israel Defense Forces warning them to leave their homes immediately. The news comes as Israel's leadership warned yesterday that the response to the rocket attacks from Gaza would be fierce. The disagreements between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, on the one hand, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak over an "arrangement" with Hamas have intensified. Advertisement Olmert and Livni accused Barak yesterday of acting against cabinet decisions, and aides to the prime minister said the Labor chief was "dragging his feet" on a response to the continued Qassam rocket attacks. Livni, meanwhile, warned that Barak is working on a separate, second deal, for a cease-fire with Hamas. Barak rejected all criticism, describing it as "chatter by those who have never held a weapon." Yesterday Israel suffered the heaviest barrage of rocket and mortar attacks since a unilateral cease-fire went into effect more than two weeks ago. A total of four Qassam rockets and 14 mortars hit the western Negev, causing light injuries to two Israeli soldiers and a civilian. Israel did not respond immediately to the attacks from the Gaza Strip, but defense sources said that action is expected in the near future and "everything will depend on the operational opportunity that emerges." Chief of Military Intelligence Amos Yadlin said yesterday during a cabinet briefing that the rocket and mortar attacks were being carried out by small Palestinian factions, whom he described as belonging to the loose network of "global jihadists." Military sources said the intelligence suggests that Hamas is trying to contain the attacks and is keen on bolstering the cease-fire with Israel. Nonetheless, political and military sources in Israel said that despite Hamas' efforts, the IDF would take action against the Palestinian Islamist group because Israel considers it responsible in Gaza. Rockets rain down Meanwhile, the residents of Sderot and the communities bordering Gaza are finding it difficult to accept the continued rocket fire after Operation Lead Cast and argue that the military offensive should have been allowed to continue. "This was entirely expected. If the Qassams continue to reach the communities on the Gaza border it means that the army operation was redundant, enormously damaged Israel's image internationally but did not have any results in ending the attacks on the southern communities," said one resident, Ariel Feller. This view was shared by Segev Kalimian. "We are still waiting for the second stage of Cast Lead, and the Qassam rockets and mortars continue to fall on our area. And it seems that no one in the government cares about us. They are only thinking about their elections next week and it looks like we are going to have to wait for more attacks on Ashdod and Ashkelon for someone in this country to understand that we need to continue with the [military operation]." The dispute in recent days among the country's ruling troika has divided Kadima's top two politicians, Olmert and Livni, from Labor chief Barak. The Kadima leaders support a harsher response to the rocket attacks - a "disproportional response" - while Barak argues that progress in the talks between Egypt and Hamas on a cease-fire should be given a chance. Reports have a deal being signed as early as Thursday in Cairo, and the defense minister believes that a more proportionate response to the attacks is warranted. Barak has described this as a response that will bolster Israeli deterrence and lead to a stable cease-fire, avoiding another escalation in the fighting. "We will respond responsibly and with sound judgment to what is going on in Gaza," Barak said. Barak's position, which is backed by Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, is being criticized by field officers, including some who took an active role in Operation Lead Cast. According to these officers, Israel is not keeping its promises to respond harshly against Hamas for every violation of the cease-fire. They expressed concern that the lack of a response will dissolve the military gains on the ground. "At this rate, we will need to go back in a ground operation in three or four months," one officer said. The same kind of skepticism was expressed yesterday by sources close to Livni who said that "we remember what happened during the past lull, when Barak reported to the cabinet that the agreement was inevitable, and this should not be repeated." "We are not certain that today he is actually telling us the whole truth about his talks with Egypt," one of the sources added. "We need to make a decision at the cabinet and go with that to Egypt." In parallel with talks between Egypt and Hamas, Israel is holding intensive negotiations with the Egyptians. The head of the security-political bureau at the Defense Ministry, Amos Gilad, told the chief of Egyptian intelligence, Gen. Omar Suleiman, that Israel is rejecting the Egypt-Hamas idea of a new cease-fire limited in time. The current proposal is for a cease-fire lasting between one and one and a half years. Israel is also rejecting verbal accords with Egypt on the character of the response to violations by, including attacks and arms smuggling. Livni reiterated before the cabinet that she opposed any agreement that granted Hamas legitimacy. "I have been fighting for three years that the world will not talk with Hamas. Whoever negotiates with Egypt to reach an 'arrangement' must understand that this will grant Hamas international legitimacy." Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Modern Kristallnacht' Chavez condemns attack on Caracas synagogue, blames opposition. Avenging Mughniyah Israel: Hezbollah planning attack to avenge Mughniyah assassination.

Read & React Four rockets fired from Gaza strike Negev in new truce violation Responses: 55 Gideon Levy: Israel's courts are accomplices to war crimes Responses: 29 Netanyahu: Iran won't get its hands on nuclear weapons Responses: 53 Israel plans to build up West Bank corridor on contested land Responses: 40 Belgium to stop selling Israel 'arms that bolster the IDF' to Israel Responses: 51 More Headlines 00:11 IDF attacks Hamas targets across Gaza Strip 00:17 High alert over Hezbollah plans to attack Israelis abroad 00:55 Two IDF soldiers, civilian lightly hurt as Gaza mortars hit Negev 00:40 Abbas: Continuing Gaza rocket fire gives Israel excuse to strike 00:26 Hamas leader Meshal: Iran has big share in our victory in Gaza 00:34 Chavez condemns attack on Caracas synagogue, blames opposition 00:13 Elections 2009 / Poll gives right-wing bloc 12 seat advantage over left 00:59 MI Chief: Hamas upholding cease-fire, but smaller Gaza groups undeterred 00:01 IDF colonel to teach TAU law course, despite critics' bid to stop her 00:14 Elections 2009 / Netanyahu: Iran won't get its hands on nuclear weapons 00:51 Olmert warns ministers against deepening schism with Turkey 00:55 Spain FM says material sent by Israel should help reverse war crime charge 00:24 Bar Refaeli picked as the new face of Marks and Spencer's lingerie line 00:17 Israeli tourists stay away from Turkey after Peres row with Erdogan Previous Editions Select Day 01 feb 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 26 jan 25 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 19 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Passover Vacations The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit 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. Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer 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 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 | Site rules |

| Makom: Engaging on 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