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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Archives) Last update - 02:37 30/01/2008 Olmert: South of country at war and many Israelis don't feel it By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service Tags: Ehud Olmert, Qassams, Israel  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that parts of southern Israel were at "war" due to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and that many Israelis were unaware of this fact. On a visit to towns on the periphery of the Gaza Strip, the prime minister said: "In the south of this country a war is taking place and people in the center do not always feel this or understand it." While there has been relative quiet of late in the Negev, southern communities have absorbed over the last month hundreds of rockets and mortar shells fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza. Advertisement Most casualties of rocket attacks suffer from shock, but many have also been treated for a range of wounds, and extensive damage has been reported both at residential and public buildings in Negev towns, particularly Sderot. In response to the attacks, the Israel Defense Forces has stepped up its air and ground operations on the Gaza Strip, targeting militants launching rockets. In its most recent response, Israel Air Force warplanes attacked a convoy of Hamas armored vehicle in the Gaza Strip late Sunday, wounding four militants. Officials in Jerusalem said earlier this week that Israel would not tolerate the continued threat to its security, exacerbated by Hamas militants' breach of the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt. Following the border breach, Israeli defense officials have expressed concerns that militants from the Gaza Strip may attack towns along Israel's long border with Sinai. Hamas official Ahmed Youssef, whose statements are not always supported by the leadership, was quoted on Sunday by the Palestinian Maan news agency warning that Gazans could next try to force open the main foot crossing into Israel, the Erez Terminal, continuing a "third Intifada", or uprising, that they had begun at Rafah. Egyptian border guards on Monday and Tuesday were repairing sections of the destroyed Gaza Strip border wall at Rafah, slowing limiting Palestinians from entering Egypt a week after they first rushed into this city. Meanwhile, the international community has voiced its support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' proposal to let his forces guard the breached frontier. Israeli officials said they would not block such a proposal. Related articles: Panic - and more rockets - strike Sderot An Israeli defeat in Sderot Officials: Israel won't let Gaza border breach threaten security Egypt continues efforts to rebuild destroyed Gaza border wall IAF wounds four Hamas militants in strike on armored car in Gaza Bookmark to del.icio.us   Painful lessons The IDF has already learnt lessons of the Second Lebanon War. Brothers in guilt 'We are all guilty; is an effective summary of the final Winograd report.   1.   Olmert govt and Peres care? 19:41  |  Ilan 29/01/08   2.   South is at War and most of Israel Oblivious 19:57  |  Millie 29/01/08   3.   If a war is raging in the south then why hasn`t... 20:06  |  bat yam 29/01/08   4.   Millie, The nerve of you!!! 20:22  |  Nephtaly 29/01/08   5.   Come to the Cabaret 20:23  |  Gideon Reader 29/01/08   6.   Wowwww, a real Victory!!!!!!1 20:30  |  Bentolila 29/01/08   7.   Millie-#2 20:44  |  J 29/01/08   8.   Olmert go home !! 21:19  |  Colin Hill 29/01/08   9.   Israel`s One-sided War 21:23  |  marge, USA 29/01/08   10.   RESPOND BY FORCE (A la Guerre Comme A la Guerre) 21:40  |  Vittorio 29/01/08   11.   Olmert Don`t VISIT - GO LIVE THERE 21:44  |  * BEN JABO 29/01/08   12.   #7 Marge - USA 21:46  |  * BEN JABO 29/01/08   13.   is olmert seriously insane ?the war and he ignores it ? 22:07  |  v hardman 29/01/08   14.   How to respond to the war in the South 22:16  |  Andrew 29/01/08   15.   Mow down any Gaza mob trying to storm into Israel at Erez! 22:19  |  Dr. L. Brnd 29/01/08   16.   Suddenly he remembers? 22:43  |  Jewish State 29/01/08   17.   heres a good idea 22:44  |  anon 29/01/08   18.   When will the public demand ... 22:48  |  Genuine Tosefta 29/01/08   19.   Olmert` drugg to drowse politics hinder IDF Decisive Victory 22:49  |  Joseph . E 29/01/08   20.   #9 - marge 22:51  |  MichaelF 29/01/08   21.   Marge learn some facts 22:56  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 29/01/08   22.   Since Israel is at war 23:13  |  Ron 29/01/08   23.   Why are Jews suddenly running around Olmert, kissing his coat... 23:29  |  Olmert is a joke 29/01/08   24.   Clickfool Friends 23:59  |  BRL 29/01/08   25.   Israel is just pussy footing arond. 00:12  |  ottomatik 30/01/08   26.   Black Flag. 00:17  |  Charles Smyth 30/01/08   27.   The NORTH was at war and OLMERT was oblivious 00:21  |  Tzfonit 30/01/08   28.   AND HE FEELS IT LEAST OF ALL 00:55  |  BEN 30/01/08   29.   Israel has been at war for over Half a Century 01:40  |  Efox 30/01/08   30.   For each QASSAM Israel should retaliate without mercy. 01:46  |  Vittorio 30/01/08   31.   Olmert you have got to be kidding 02:16  |  Y Sari-Levi 30/01/08   32.   Probably because it isn`t a war, Olmert 04:05  |  Johnboy 30/01/08   33.   #12 Nobody says they are INNOCENT, BEN JABO 04:11  |  Johnboy 30/01/08   34.   #12 Sorry I can`t address you by name, since your address 04:35  |  * BEN JABO 30/01/08   35.   Return fire 04:42  |  Alfred 30/01/08   36.   Johnboy`s delusional 05:06  |  AL 30/01/08   37.   `War & Peace` & `The Tale of Two Cities`. & more.. 07:27  |  Akram Zekaria 30/01/08   38.   #36 And you claim I`M delusional! 09:50  |  Johnboy 30/01/08   39.   Olmert doesn`t feel it himself 14:24  |  YF 30/01/08   40.   #38 Not only are delusional, you`re also evasive 03:50  |  * BEN JABO 31/01/08

Today Online Ahmadinejad tells West: Accept Israel's 'imminent collapse' Responses: 307 Winograd: Final ground op 'did not achieve military goals' Responses: 110 Amira Hass: Finally, there's a popular uprising in Gaza Responses: 89 UN envoy: Gaza women feel coerced into covering heads Responses: 105 High Court okays cutting fuel and power to Gaza Responses: 111 Rosner's Domain The campaign for Darfur has achieved all its goals - but one Rosner's Guest: Israelis do not know enough about Jewish Diaspora Jewish vote in Florida: 58% for Clinton (WTR) Poll: Is there a "constant virulent campaign" against Obama? Back to divestment from Israel (WTR) More Headlines 04:34 Winograd lays blame for war failings on IDF 04:11 IDF says was 'well aware' of flaws before Winograd Report 22:01 Winograd: Final ground op 'did not achieve military goals', but approving it was essential step 03:22 Protest movement seeks to get to Olmert through Barak 22:59 ANALYSIS: Winograd Committee report says 'we are all guilty' 22:03 German cabinet will visit Israel to mark Jewish state's 60th year 02:42 Giuliani quits Republican presidential race, endorses McCain 19:28 Egyptian police kill two Africans during bid to cross into Israel 02:22 Jerusalem officials praise public's response to snowstorm 17:13 High Court okays reducing fuel and power supply to Gaza Strip 20:50 Hezbollah: War report will corner Olmert, make him lose credibility 20:07 Israel to send thousands of vaccines to Gaza after border breach 22:10 Kadima rallies around Olmert, urges Barak to stay in gov't Previous Editions Select Day 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan

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