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Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Reuters) Last update - 19:03 12/02/2008 Peres: If we're fired upon, we must hit back without hesitation By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies Tags: gaza, israel, hamas  President Shimon Peres said on Tuesday that "if were are being fired upon we must hit back without hesitation and without compromise," referring to the ongoing Qassam rocket fire launched from the Gaza Strip to Israel. Peres, who spoke at a conference for National Service volunteers from the kibbutz movement, reiterated that "we don't want to hurt innocent citizens, but we won't let our enemies hurt our citizens." The president added that, "we cannot be satisfied only with talk. I trust the IDF, and even if complete solutions to the Qassam fire will take time, there is no doubt that the IDF will leave with the superior hand." Advertisement Peres harshly criticized Hamas leaders, maintaining that "Hamas leaders in Gaza must know that ultimately those hurt will be those who are breaking the [international] law themselves." Referring to Tuesday's report that Hamas leaders went underground to escape IDF strikes, Peres said "don't be mistaken, Haniyeh went underground because he knows welll that he committed severe crimes against his people and against citizens, children, and women in Israel. He is not offering anything to Gaza residents except life in a tunnel of terror." The president maintained that Israel must work to enlist positive public opinion internationally, and recognition of the events in Sdeot as crimes breaking international law. Peres called for solidarity with Sderot residents, and said, "when Osher Twito's leg was amputated, it was as if an entire generation's leg was amputated." He reiterated his support for Sderot residents' calls to reinforce the town and protect it from rocket fire, saying "I declare that Israel is wealthy enough to answer every security requirement and others for the needs of Sderot residents, and it is my intent to continue and pass along this message." Barak: IDF to act with full force in Gaza in due time Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday that the there are currently good reasons to hold off on a full-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip, but that it will come in due time. On a visit to Turkey, Barak added that the government must act with level-headedness and responsibility, and not be subject to occasional whims. Barak criticized ministers who share their military suggestions with the media. "It's one thing when it's just journalists who are typing up their ideas, but the issue becomes dangerous when those with military experience name specific targets," he said. "These targets will simply disappear." Hamas said Tuesday that Israel would fail to topple its rule in the Gaza Strip, a day after Barak said one of the goals of Israel's military operations in the Strip is to bring about the Hamas' demise in the Strip. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, told a Hamas Web site that Israel would not succeed in bringing down Hamas. "These comments ... confirm that the aim of the current aggression on Gaza isn't about security, it is political, and it aims to try destroy Hamas," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri in comments posted on the group's Web site. "But it's a failed war, and it will fail." Laying out the general outline of Israel's plan of action in the Gaza Strip, Barak told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday that the first priority is to contain the Qassam rocket threat and the smuggling of arms and explosives from Sinai into the Gaza Strip, and then to destabilize Hamas' hold on the territory, possibly even bringing it down. Barak, visiting Turkey on Tuesday, said that a full-scale military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip would not take place right away. "It won't happen right away. There are reasons why we are not acting with full force right now. It will happen when the time is right," Barak told reporters aboard his flight to Turkey. On the operational level, Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Monday at a conference of senior command officers that "the Israel Defense Forces is prepared and ready to deepen and broaden its activities in the Gaza Strip, in any way necessary, and in line with the [political] decisions that will be made." This is contrary to information from sources at the Defense Ministry, who said that the army's preparations for an operation in the Strip are not yet complete, suggesting that such readiness will not be achieved for several months. Much of the conference revolved around the situation in the Gaza Strip and the fighting there. Three senior officers expressed their frustration that the IDF is not providing sufficient security for the residents of Sderot who are under Qassam attacks. Intelligence data presented at the conference showed that there has been a sharp increase in the amounts of weapons and explosives smuggled into the Strip during recent months. The army is particularly concerned with the flow of arms through the Rafah crossing when Hamas toppled the wall there three weeks ago. There are worries that Hamas has succeeded in importing relatively advanced missiles and anti-tank rockets that could make an IDF operation in the Gaza Strip more difficult. Related articles: Hamas rejects Abbas proposal to broker cease-fire with Israel Hamas confiscates humanitarian aid trucks sent to Gaza from Jordan J'lem said to favor Hamas bid to cut Israel-Gaza ties Haniyeh advisor: Hamas willing to discuss a truce with Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gore wins TAU prize Al Gore and Amos OZ are among the recipients of the 2008 Dan David Prize. Spring roll strike Asian eateries across Israel cut menu over plans to rid kitchens of foreign chefs.   1.   Less talk more action KICK ASS, Israel 04:07  |  ottomatik 12/02/08   2.   do it stop talking more you talk more foolish you sound 04:15  |  ralph 12/02/08   3.   hamas` demise? 04:22  |  David 12/02/08   4.   Sderot Are US , Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or anywhere else in Israel 04:34  |  Joseph . E 12/02/08   5.   More Leftist idiocies 04:40  |  Frank 12/02/08   6.   Hams demise 05:02  |  George 12/02/08   7.   Barak: Israel aims to bring about Hamas` demise in Gaza 05:07  |  David 12/02/08   8.   I say try the garbage op... 05:08  |  Yessir Ibn Badkarma 12/02/08   9.   Ahmad Yassin, founder and former head of Hamas, said in 2004: 05:10  |  Joseph . E 12/02/08   10.   More bright idea`s? 05:36  |  maoriboy 12/02/08   11.   Less talk more falling into Hamas traps? 06:02  |  Pablo B 12/02/08   12.   The clowns continue the circus 07:08  |  spyguy 12/02/08   13.   Barak note to self: Order more body bags 07:09  |  Natallie Durson 12/02/08   14.   This sucks 07:28  |  Arab 12/02/08   15.   Too Much Big Talk - Just Protect Sderot 07:33  |  Tod Zuckerman 12/02/08   16.   Tod @ SF - the rub is there is ABSOLUTELY 07:52  |  spyguy 12/02/08   17.   Hamas revivified? 08:08  |  JW 12/02/08   18.   DM BARAK WILL BE ANOTHER PERETZ 08:09  |  Khalil Ishabib 12/02/08   19.   Advocating a new war under Olmert 08:13  |  Pablo B 12/02/08   20.   #13, Durson 08:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/02/08   21.   #14, Arab 08:20  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/02/08   22.   There will be no significant Gaza Operation 08:48  |  MiddleStanian 12/02/08   23.   Will U wipe out all 1.5 mil gazans to make them accept occupation 09:10  |  Steve Katz 12/02/08   24.   Another aim: Kill as many Palestinians as possible 09:40  |  Maki 12/02/08   25.   Adapted rules. 09:44  |  Malka Ziv 12/02/08   26.   Quash Hamas rule? I don`t think so 09:49  |  Natallie Durson 12/02/08   27.   Zionist nation 10:02  |  Rob 12/02/08   28.   A prototype 11:12  |  Colin Wright 12/02/08   29.   KATZ Will you bomb Israeli civillians daily to make them accept - 11:58  |  PETER SM 12/02/08   30.   Hamas reads Haaretz 12:03  |  Josh 12/02/08   31.   Shut Up Already 12:43  |  Jane 12/02/08   32.   Durson on strategy... 13:26  |  Joe Sittizen 12/02/08   33.   Translation into English. 13:37  |  Avraham 12/02/08   34.   Israel has no solution 13:53  |  tommygunns 12/02/08   35.   Israel should not fall into Iranian trap 14:08  |  Jonathan S 12/02/08   36.   empty words lead nowhere-except more kassams 14:14  |  charles 12/02/08   37.   To 27 Rob - Wny you are so angry? 14:15  |  Vital 12/02/08   38.   Bara 14:28  |  Nick 12/02/08   39.   Hamas / Iran 14:36  |  mike 12/02/08   40.   I WILL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT 14:38  |  zionist forever 12/02/08   41.   Defence Minister`s remarks. 14:50  |  David Nigel Braham 12/02/08   42.   Ideology of fanatics is a problem 14:52  |  Stranger 12/02/08   43.   vainglorious boasting,nothing is going to happen!The idf soldiers 15:07  |  lakshmi 12/02/08   44.   Lakshmo 43 15:25  |  ChanahS 12/02/08   45.   Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine never stops 15:51  |  Jacopo 12/02/08   46.   Weak Leadership can`t perform 15:54  |  Brod 12/02/08   47.   Thanks Rob 15:55  |  ali 12/02/08   48.   Barak, ACT NOW.... not tomorrow. 16:01  |  cv 12/02/08   49.   No need for Israel to do very much at all.... 16:08  |  David 12/02/08   50.   Avoiding Winograd 2 16:26  |  Avrum 12/02/08   51.   to Natallie Durson 16:33  |  Harry 12/02/08   52.   Peres 16:34  |  MR 12/02/08   53.   do can be more are is fight yes no israel! 17:23  |  shimka 12/02/08   54.   Only one method works: Civil Society 17:34  |  St. Father 12/02/08   55.   #45 jacopo doesnt know there is no palestine 18:11  |  v hardman 12/02/08   56.   What does he mean "IF WE`RE FIRED UPON" ???? 18:14  |  Ben 12/02/08   57.   Chris Linthwaite .... You didnt answer 18:16  |  Free Gilad Shalit 12/02/08   58.   Please keep Peres out of it. 18:19  |  Akram Zekaria 12/02/08   59.   Chris Linthwaite..... More questions 18:23  |  Free Gilad Shalit 12/02/08   60.   31# Jane You can`t be more right. 18:27  |  Akram Zekaria 12/02/08   61.   to Lakshmi # 45 18:42  |  dovale 12/02/08   62.   #13 19:00  |  Jane 12/02/08   63.   #26 Natallie 19:06  |  Tom 12/02/08   64.   Peres told: If we`re fired upon, we must hit back!-SO, HIT BACK! 19:07  |  Vittorio 12/02/08   65.   ethnic cleansing may as well start 19:08  |  peter 12/02/08   66.   lockshen frothing at the mouth 19:09  |  peter 12/02/08   67.   Steve Katz (?) 19:14  |  Forever 12/02/08   68.   # 13 Fatmah, the beasts do not need any bags... 19:32  |  Misha 12/02/08   69.   Harry in no 51 19:56  |  Bronstein M 12/02/08   70.   MEXICO! 20:39  |  Vadim 12/02/08   71.   MEXICO TAKE 2 20:41  |  Vadim 12/02/08   72.   Qassam fire 21:15  |  zdp 12/02/08   73.   Iran is the Hamas zeal! 21:22  |  Paul 12/02/08   74.   Fear of World Opinion 21:36  |  Irv 12/02/08   75.   Lots of talk from current government and no action 21:42  |  Ben 12/02/08   76.   For Irv # 74 21:58  |  Clickfool 12/02/08   77.   #35 Jonathan S falls into Iranian trap, while avoiding Hamas trap 22:23  |  Pablo B 12/02/08   78.   Backing another losing team: Peres and Olmert 22:29  |  Pablo B 12/02/08   79.   Bahgdad Bob and Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, 22:34  |  akiva (zionist) 12/02/08   80.   #71 Vadim - The US has treaties with Mexico, mutual recognition 22:40  |  Pablo B 12/02/08   81.   Handing over Command/Control authority over the IDF to Hamas 22:49  |  Pablo B 12/02/08   82.   Strike back 22:57  |  G.L. 12/02/08   83.   Strike Back 22:59  |  G.L. 12/02/08   84.   Carthage must be destroyed 22:59  |  Cato the Elder 12/02/08   85.   Spyguy-Thank you for your concerned advice 23:07  |  Stephen in New York 12/02/08   86.   Victorpaul Harrisman re no Palestine 23:28  |  Labhras 12/02/08   87.   katz how ignorant of historey are you? gaza is unoccupied chose 23:33  |  ralph 12/02/08   88.   katz how ignorant of historey are you? gaza is unoccupied chose 23:33  |  ralph 12/02/08   89.   Hamas an Qassams 23:49  |  Dik 12/02/08   90.   8 years later but that`s the way things are done upstairs 23:49  |  Bijou 12/02/08   91.   spyguy suggests the arabs are dumb 23:54  |  peter 12/02/08   92.   #13 Durson 00:01  |  Boris 13/02/08   93.   #13 Durson 00:01  |  Boris 13/02/08   94.   ?? 00:23  |  Mark Katzman 13/02/08   95.   #78 Pablo 00:51  |  fastfalconmertz 13/02/08   96.   For Clickfool #76 01:18  |  Irv 13/02/08   97.   Oslo Peres Treason = Catastroph (nakba) against the Jewish State 02:10  |  Joseph . E 13/02/08   98.   #85 Stephen - what you know about technology 02:23  |  spyguy 13/02/08   99.   Notr noble 03:01  |  jjvanka 13/02/08   100.   Not noble 03:01  |  jjvanka 13/02/08   101.   #23 03:31  |  Moshe 13/02/08   102.   Ralph (88) 03:43  |  jjvanka 13/02/08   103.   #26 03:48  |  Moshe 13/02/08   104.   Peres Needs to Retire 04:07  |  Arnold 13/02/08   105.   #16 04:42  |  Moshe 13/02/08   106.   peres and barak bulshit day and night 04:50  |  reuven 13/02/08   107.   Spyjerk-telling us to surrender to Hamas 05:54  |  Stephen in New York 13/02/08   108.   If Sami Abu Zuhrif is so sure why is he hiding with the rest 06:58  |  Dish It Out 13/02/08   109.   Peres is completely wrong 07:22  |  Jerrold Cohen 13/02/08   110.   Peres: Hit Back 08:22  |  Poppy M. B. 13/02/08   111.   #86 labarse of arabia and goodbye george 09:00  |  v hardman 13/02/08   112.   What Peres ought to realize ... 10:07  |  Dutch 13/02/08   113.   Sami Abu Zuhri is aboutely right 10:50  |  Dutch 13/02/08

Today Online PM: Major progress possible on borders of Palestinian state Responses: 49 Barak says ministerial calls for action in Gaza are 'dangerous' Responses: 18 Amira Hass: Gazans wonder what's new about Israel wiping out neighborhoods Responses: 3 Haaretz.com TV: Teen recalls Qassam attack in which his brother lost a leg Responses: 3 Rosner's Domain Guest: Why does Obama think talking to "Hitler" can succeed? Obama is gaining momentum - also among Jews Democratic policy unity is a mirage (WTR) Poll: Is it legitimate to cut electricity to Gaza? Factor: How's McCain better than Obama More Headlines 11:11 Hezbollah: Deputy chief killed in Syria blast 10:52 Aliyah envoy arrested over fake conversions 10:38 Olmert: Significant progress possible on borders of Palestinian state 07:47 Dov Alfon named as new Haaretz editor-in-chief 08:21 City manager insists gov't delaying Jewish housing in E. J'lem 05:16 Fatah undergoing major democratic reform to compete with Hamas, Fayyad 07:23 Barak says ministerial calls for action in Gaza are 'dangerous' 09:53 Oscar-tipped Jewish filmmakers seal deal on bestseller screen adaptation 08:35 Obama wins three primaries, takes Democratic delegate lead 08:51 Argentine Jews mourn car crash death of prominent rabbi, aged 37 02:50 Senior Shas officials: Rabbi Yosef not ready to quit coalition 09:49 Aides: Katsav should break gag order in sex crimes plea bargain 19:03 Peres: If we're fired upon, we must hit back without hesitation Previous Editions Select Day 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan

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