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IDF military vehicles inside the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. (AP)
Last update - 10:56 06/09/2007
Sources: IDF objects to Gaza op because of tensions with Syria
By Amos Harel and Barak Ravid , Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Sderot, Israel, Ehud Olmert 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday that the Israel Defense Forces was moving closer to an extensive ground action in the Gaza Strip, "in order to halt the rocket fire and the strengthening [of militant organizations]", Barak told his senior staff and the heads of the military industries. The statement came a few hours after the security cabinet decided not to significantly alter the IDF's actions in the Gaza Strip.

The cabinet also decided to examine the legal implications of imposing sanctions on the civilian population of the Gaza Strip in response to Qassam fire, such as disrupting the supply of electricity.

However, no troop buildup or other preparations are being made in the Southern Command for immediate action. Senior military sources told Haaretz that as long as the tension is high along the Syrian border, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi objects to large-scale action in Gaza because of the difficulty of operating on two fronts without massive drafting of the reserves. The sources said Israel's position might change if a large number of casualties resulted from the Qassam fire.
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At the end of the cabinet meeting, Prime MInister Ehud Olmert said the IDF should "reduce the Qassam fire as much as possible," and should submit plans to the government on how this was to be accomplished.

"The cabinet has decided to continue intense military action against those involved in terror and launching of rockets, and none of those responsible for a partners to terror is immune to this action," the prime minister's bureau said.

Barak told the cabinet that lacking a defense system, he recommended pinpointed action: "The solution is offensive actions deep in the territory based on intelligence."

In discussing the possibility of sanctions against Gaza's civilian population, Minister without Portfolio Yitzhak Cohen (Shas) said the Palestinians should be shown that "there is a price tag for every rocket." Vice Premier Haim Ramon (Kadima) reiterated that electricity to Gaza should be interrupted after every rocket.

At the end of the meeting, Olmert asked the defense establishment, the Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry officials to prepare plans that would take into consideration the "military and civilian implications of stoping services provided to the Gaza Strip by Israel."

A statement following the meeting also said "the Israeli government views Hamas as responsible for the firing of the Qassams and the terror activity in the Gaza Strip. This murderous terror organization purports to lead daily life in Gaza while life in the communities around Gaza is insufferable."

The cabinet also decided to continue reinforcement work in Sderot with the installation Friday of 15 more mobile reinforced rooms in public areas in Sderot, in which people could take shelter in case of a rocket attack.

IDF troops from the Golani Brigade, the Armored Corps and the Engineering Corps ended a two-day sweep Wednesday night of the industrial zone of Beit Hanun over the past two days, in an attempt to locate Qassam launchers. Troops found 11 launchers Wednesday.

At least three Qassams were fired Wednesday from the Gaza, landing in open areas without causing injuries or damage. One rocket fell in the area of Zikim south of Ashkelon, and two more fell on the southern border of the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, one paratrooper was moderately injured and two others slightly injured when an explosive device was set off near their vehicle in Nablus. Troops uncovered and destroyed an explosives lab in Nablus
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Obama's blunder
As Penn. primary approaches, Clinton has latched on to 'values' remarks by Obama.
  1.   collective punishment 10:15  |  Leona 05/09/07
  2.   EVIL X GOOD 10:23  |  indrajaya 05/09/07
  3.   Terrible 10:26  |  Democrat 05/09/07
  4.   The Decent of Israel (continued) 10:31  |  Natallie Durson 05/09/07
  5.   Not fair 10:32  |  S 05/09/07
  6.   the only way 10:37  |  Tina 05/09/07
  7.   Why do you always twist everything. No one wants to punish the 10:39  |  Judith, haifa 05/09/07
  8.   REMOVE SDEROT 10:54  |  indrajaya 05/09/07
  9.   We should consider this strategy 10:57  |  christoph 05/09/07
  10.   A LOGIC OF A CRIMINAL 10:58  |  indrajaya 05/09/07
  11.   I Have a Better Idea to the Qassam problem 11:00  |  Gil 05/09/07
  12.   What to do? Shake your finger at them? 11:03  |  isaac 05/09/07
  13.   IS THIS FOR REAL OR NOT? 11:06  |  indrajaya 05/09/07
  14.   ready or not - what are they waiting for??? 11:14  |  Avi 05/09/07
  15.   Hamas tried to set ceasefire, Barak spurned it 11:28  |  www.kibush.co.il 05/09/07
  16.   WHY BOTHER? RETAKE GAZA ELIMINATE HAMAS.. 11:38  |  S K Chan 05/09/07
  17.   Israel sink even further 11:41  |  David G. 05/09/07
  18.   I Have a Better Idea to the Qassam problem 11:42  |  Gil 05/09/07
  19.   Time for the left wing kneejerk reactions 11:58  |  Joe Sittizen 05/09/07
  20.   "..there were no injuries but 12 children were treated for shock. 12:06  |  Pavel 05/09/07
  21.   Ramon is a WAR CRiminal 12:23  |  lisa 05/09/07
  22.   Punishing Israeli children 12:27  |  Robin 05/09/07
  23.   #1 leona and collective punishment upside down 12:38  |  victor hardman 05/09/07
  24.   TIME FOR REAL RESPONSES NOT PROMISES ! 12:40  |  PAUL HARRIS 05/09/07
  25.   Holidays abroad 12:41  |  Murray 05/09/07
  26.   NOW IS BARAK CHECKING WHAT TO DO??!! 12:44  |  Robert 05/09/07
  27.   Fix them for good 12:45  |  Jack Davis 05/09/07
  28.   Leona and line of fire 12:49  |  Johnny 05/09/07
  29.   Natalie on gaza worst place to live - well time to straighten up 12:53  |  Johnny 05/09/07
  30.   Indrajaya you are a clown 12:54  |  Johnny 05/09/07
  31.   Fuelling the fires of Boycott or making peace. 12:56  |  Labhras 05/09/07
  32.   Of course Gazans must be punished! 13:07  |  redmike 05/09/07
  33.   Hamas is a Covenient Enemy and an Easy Target 13:09  |  Ronnie Wolman 05/09/07
  34.   David G. 13:09  |  Nik Miller 05/09/07
  35.   A series of immoral choices, where to start 13:17  |  M 05/09/07
  36.   Punishment? 13:23  |  Ben 05/09/07
  37.   What Haaretz is withholding from the public 13:23  |  Jonathan S 05/09/07
  38.   Reality TV Presents : " Survivor - Gaza " ( Season 1 ) 13:24  |  Klaudia 05/09/07
  39.   NO POWER, LIMITED WATER, NO TOILET PAPER 13:26  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 05/09/07
  40.   War crimes committed by our leaders - not in my name 13:26  |  lennybruce 05/09/07
  41.   So, if y`all are so worried about the endangered Pal... 13:26  |  MaryRose 05/09/07
  42.   Jon Feigenbaum,toilet paper doesn`t matter for them,left hand 13:31  |  Absolute Sweden 05/09/07
  43.   redmike #32 13:37  |  guido 05/09/07
  44.   To Leona # 1 - The Moderates..... 13:38  |  Andrea 05/09/07
  45.   Paying the price for turning Gaza into a ghetto 13:39  |  Ben Alofs 05/09/07
  46.   #42 LOL!! 13:39  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 05/09/07
  47.   collective stupidity 13:40  |  peter 05/09/07
  48.   Idiots. Israelis and Arabs alike. 13:40  |  christoph 05/09/07
  49.   40 IT is not in YOUR name 13:42  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 05/09/07
  50.   Start a new settlement for every day that there are qassams 13:42  |  Sam 05/09/07
  51.   To indrajaya # 2 - Evil v, Good. 13:45  |  Dolly 05/09/07
  52.   #31-The rubbernecker has no clue 13:45  |  peter 05/09/07
  53.   For Robin # 22 13:46  |  Clickfool 05/09/07
  54.   let me see 13:49  |  rose 05/09/07
  55.   Israel is now rolling around in a filthy gutter 13:52  |  Clickfool 05/09/07
  56.   Collective Punishment 13:52  |  civilized kid 05/09/07
  57.   Mere talk of this proves Jimmy Carter`s thesis 13:53  |  Tim 05/09/07
  58.   gazans aren`t firing qassams 13:57  |  peter 05/09/07
  59.   Kibbush Baby #15 13:57  |  FOX 05/09/07
  60.   Every Gazan a target = every Jew a target? 13:58  |  Dutch Dirk 05/09/07
  61.   To Avi # 14 - Pay-back Time...... 14:00  |  Natasha 05/09/07
  62.   The sick David G 14:01  |  Jasmine Murphy 05/09/07
  63.   David in Britain 14:02  |  Miche Norman 05/09/07
  64.   Natallie it was a paradise when the Jews were there. 14:02  |  Israeli 05/09/07
  65.   Before I run out of electricity 14:03  |  Gazan 05/09/07
  66.   # 2 Indy and the usual whine..... 14:03  |  Lynn 05/09/07
  67.   Father Tim,a Canadian RAF pilot participated in strike on Ruhr Da 14:04  |  Absolute Sweden 05/09/07
  68.   #40 lennybruce 14:06  |  Labhras 05/09/07
  69.   `lennybruce` 14:07  |  real Israeli 05/09/07
  70.   Tim, what was that, lusting after Arafat in his heart? 14:09  |  Israeli 05/09/07
  71.