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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 12:19 19/12/2007 Olmert vows to continue targeting leaders behind Qassam strikes By Mazal Mualem, Avi Issacharoff and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents, and AP Tags: Ehud Olmert, IAF, Gaza Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged Tuesday to target terrorist leaders in the Gaza Strip responsible for the rockets fired at southern Israel, after Israel Air Force raids killed at least 11 Palestinians since Monday night including the head of the Islamic Jihad military wing in Gaza. Palestinians fired some 15 mortar shells and five Qassam rockets at Israel Tuesday, causing no injuries or damage. "We will continue to seek out the heads of the terror organizations and strike at them," Olmert said at a Kadima meeting in Jerusalem last night. "We will get all those who are responsible for firing rockets on the communities near Gaza and on Sderot." Advertisement "Events in the field speak and will speak for themselves, and I think the terror organizations feel this and will continue to feel this in full force in the near future," he said. "I think that in the past two days, more people understand that a war is underway there. This war will not cease." Israeli security officials signaled that other Islamic Jihad leaders could be targeted, saying Israel has drawn up plans to hit the heads of the organization as well as activists involved in firing rockets and other attacks. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said after meeting with James L. Jones, the special United States envoy for Middle East security, that Israel would not let up in its offensive in Gaza, but warned that the militants? threats of revenge must be taken seriously. "I hope these successes continue," Barak said. "At the same time we must be on our guard for the responses that may come from the other side." Three Islamic Jihad operatives and two Hamas police officers were killed in two separate Israeli air strikes Tuesday morning, and six Palestinians were killed the night before. Among the dead were Majed Harazin, Islamic Jihad?s charismatic military commander for Gaza and the West Bank, and master rocket-maker Karim al-Dahdouh. "There is no doubt that this is a big loss," said Khader Habib, an Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza. Islamic Jihad countered with a threat to resume suicide bombings in Israel, as thousands of Gazans took to the streets in funeral processions for the dead militants, many firing assault rifles. In northern Gaza, bullets from the rifles of mourners severed an electric wire that fell and injured five people, medics said. "The blood of our comrades will be the fuel for the rockets that will bring death and destruction to the Zionists," Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Hamza told reporters. Islamic Jihad officials instructed their operatives to avoid using cellular phones and traveling in vehicles, in an effort to keep Israel from killing more of them Bookmark to del.icio.us Christmas blues Gazan Christians keep low profile during Christmas after activist slain. Absent voice An Israeli think tank says Israeli Arabs should take part in negotiations with PA.   1.   Israel has the right to prevent terrorist attacks 14:35  |  Mawloud Ould Daddah 19/12/07   2.   Where was this vigilance earlier? 21:36  |  DR 19/12/07   3.   Ah yes--more targeted assassinations... 04:56  |  Silvienne 20/12/07   4.   #3, actually Silvienne 17:54  |  DR 20/12/07   5.   Extra-Judicial executions" C`mon, Silvienne 07:26  |  Stephen in New York 21/12/07   6.   #4, Well, DR... 00:04  |  Silvienne 24/12/07   7.   #5, Stephen in New York... 00:08  |  Silvienne 24/12/07

Today Online U.S. plans confidential appraisal of Israeli and PA peace moves Responses: 207 Reform head: U.S. Jews mustn't oppose compromise on J'lem Responses: 61 Israel expands plans for new homes in E. J'lem, W. Bank Responses: 57 Meron Benvenisti: Israeli Arabs must stop mourning Nakba Responses: 63 Security cabinet okays funding for 'Iron Dome' rocket defense system Responses: 41 More Headlines 23:45 Fayyad's police take over as Bethlehem becomes latest city in PA security drive 23:41 Security cabinet okays funding for 'Iron Dome' rocket defense system 21:19 Gaza's Christians keep low Christmas profile after activist slain 23:06 Panel postpones budget vote as gov't MKs balk at stipend cuts 23:19 Immigration to Israel in 2007 down 6%, at its lowest since 1989 16:35 Ehud Olmert rejects Hamas' offer of cease-fire in Gaza Strip 22:38 Lebanon's opposition threatens to boycott presidential vote 20:48 Report: German man jailed for teaching his dog to perform Nazi salute 19:05 Think tank: Israeli Arabs should take part in negotiations with PA Previous Editions Select Day 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec

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