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Last update - 20:12 27/02/2008
Olmert: No one in Hamas will be immune against war we wage
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Tags: Sderot, Qassam rocket, Hamas 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday said that a war was being waged in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, and vowed that "no one in Hamas, not the low-level officials nor the highest echelon, will be immune against this war."

The prime minister was speaking in Japan shortly after 30 Qassam rockets launched from the Gaza Strip slammed into southern Israel and killed a 30-year-old college student outside Sapir College on the outskirts of Sderot.

Sources in the prime minister's entourage said that Olmert was receiving constant updates on the situation in southern Israel and Gaza from his military attache. The prime minister was told that Hamas had taken responsibility for the deadly barrage, and that it is believed that the strike was a response to the deaths of 5 Hamas members in a Wednesday morning Israel Air Force strike on the Strip.
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However, the prime minister said that "I don't recall even once speaking about a large-scale ground operation in the Strip."

David Baker, an official in the Prime Minister's Office, said in an official response to the Qassam attack that "Israel will take the appropriate measures to bring these murderous rocket attacks to an end."

"Those attacking Israel will realize that they are facing an Israel that is determined to defend its citizens, and we will use all the means at our disposal at any and every opportunity," he said.

Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit called for an intensified campaign to target Gaza militants. "If it were up to me, I would hit everything that moves with weapons and ammunition," he told Army Radio. "I don't think we have to show pity for anyone who wants to kill us."

Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal told Army Radio that "we knew this was coming. It's a shame that it happened. This is a difficult day."

U.K. Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells issued a response Wednesday following the deadly attack saying "we unreservedly condemn the barrage of rockets on southern Israel that has left one man dead and several others injured. I offer my deepest sympathies to the family."

"There can be no justification for the almost daily rocket and mortar attacks on Sderot and the surrounding area. We call on all Palestinian factions to stop attacks, including rocket strikes, against innocent civilians. I hope that Israel will show restraint in the face of these attacks," he added.

"The U.K. offers its full support to the Israeli and Palestinian leaders who reiterated their commitment to the peace process at Annapolis and in negotiations held since. Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with the full support of the international community, must find a way to restore calm for the sake of the civilian populations on both sides," he concluded.

David Barnan, the head of the Sapir College students' association, said he ran to the scene of the explosion and was shocked. "I can't put it into words," he told Army Radio. Barnan demanded that the government carry out its pledges to reinforce buildings at the college, but he remained defiant.

"This is our country," he said. "We will stay alive, we continue our studies, we will continue to do all the things we need to do, and speaking for myself, I can say we're not afraid of anyone."

Nati Messing, a third year student at Sapir College, said that the campus had turned into a firing range. "We heard the 'red color' [alert] sirens several times during the course of the day and went into the 'protected space' but there was one serious boom and it turns out that a Qassam struck in the parking lot some 50 meters from the building we were in."

Messing added that students from the first aid unit rushed to the scene of the strike and administered first aid to the victim, "but then we heard that it was too late," Messing said.

Asked whether students were planning to leave the college, Messing responded with a resounding "no."

"It was a difficult day," he said, "but the students aren't rushing to leave. We had some difficult days last year too. We are on the war front. Sderot has been abandoned by the government, but we will not abandon it."

Related articles:
  • Israeli killed in massive Qassam barrage on Negev
  • ANALYSIS: In the end blood was shed in Sderot, not Gaza
  • IDF tank unit kills Palestinian near Gaza border
  • Gaza protest of Israeli blockade yields disappointing turnout
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      1.   Olmert - Israel Deserves This Jackass 18:09  |  Tod Zuckerman 27/02/08
      2.   A clown who`s said exactly the same things many times before 18:15  |  Absolute Sweden 27/02/08
      3.   Look who is talking now ! 18:17  |  Vitaly 27/02/08
      4.   Really??? 18:18  |  Ayman 27/02/08
      5.   Olmert: How much longer, Israelis? 18:25  |  Polybios 27/02/08
      6.   Paradox 18:27  |  Bung 27/02/08
      7.   The only way to stop Kassams 18:28  |  Alex 27/02/08
      8.   when? 18:30  |  frenz 27/02/08
      9.   PMO:We`ll do everything!...like what? 18:35  |  jewish doctor 27/02/08
      10.   More empty rhetoric from a frightened, helpless & inept PM... 18:36  |  bat yam 27/02/08
      11.   Olmert: Blah Blah Blah 18:42  |  RB 27/02/08
      12.   Olmert: we will murder more Palestineians ensuring that the war 18:50  |  Assad-u-LLAH 27/02/08
      13.   red alert 18:51  |  Prof David 27/02/08
      14.   High treason to turn back on your citizens 18:53  |  idly by(e} 27/02/08
      15.   To Assadullah 19:09  |  Musa 27/02/08
      16.   to assad 19:20  |  real vision 27/02/08
      17.   only one way to prevent rocket attacks 19:56  |  chaim 27/02/08
      18.   Lessons Israelis cannot learn 19:57  |  Chas. 27/02/08
      19.   to real vision 19:59  |  just me 27/02/08
      20.   pm unqualifed 20:00  |  marcel 27/02/08
      21.   When will they ever learn 20:02  |  Baz Mann 27/02/08
      22.   Oh be quiet, and do something constructive,... 20:05  |  Gideon Reader 27/02/08
      23.   ALL TALK NO ACTION, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! 20:08  |  Avraham 27/02/08
      24.   Interesting. He who "still" presides over this ongoing fiasco... 20:08  |  common sense 27/02/08
      25.   Cowardly bombing from the air planned by Chicken Chow Mein 20:10  |  Clickfool 27/02/08
      26.   MATHAMATICAL SOLUTION TO PEACE 20:12  |  SMART JEW 27/02/08
      27.   System working well. Please send more money 20:30  |  Clickfool 27/02/08
      28.   Olmert the mouth wages war of words 20:32  |  bernard ross 27/02/08
      29.   telegraphing your punches...or empty threats 20:34  |  superjew 27/02/08
      30.   The best defense is a relentless and merciless offense 20:34  |  bernard ross 27/02/08
      31.   Olmert, it is hollow bluster and posturing as usual 20:49  |  Fairplay 27/02/08
      32.   The only way this crap will come to an end... 20:51  |  reached-my-limit 27/02/08
      33.   Giving solice to the enemy 20:52  |  Paul 27/02/08
      34.   Israel and Jews need to leave Palestine 21:03  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08
      35.   olmert the clown should resign now 21:06  |  reuven 27/02/08
      36.   Turkey/Kurds and Israel/Gaza 21:12  |  Devorah 27/02/08
      37.   israel terror 21:13  |  james 27/02/08
      38.   The world should rise up against the war mongers in Israel 21:13  |  Dutch 27/02/08
      39.   We want ALL the land, you got it? ok???? 21:15  |  Assadullah 27/02/08
      40.   Mr. Olmert Should Realise 21:21  |  Yaakoiv Sulivan 27/02/08
      41.   Olmert resign already your pathetic 21:22  |  Shepherd 27/02/08
      42.   Talks Cheap 21:25  |  Steve 27/02/08
      43.   olmerde :keep your mouth shut BARAK ACT NOW 21:36  |  trumpeldor 27/02/08
      44.   Olmert`s statements..... 21:40  |  Shalom 27/02/08
      45.   It`s criminal for Olmert to threaten his neighbors with murder 21:44  |  Dutch 27/02/08
      46.   no one 21:45  |  Shmuelshachor 27/02/08
      47.   STOP THE TALK 21:49  |  TOBIA 27/02/08
      48.   Olmert you should be tried for treason 21:57  |  Kipperraes 27/02/08
      49.   #32 yaakov Sullivan read history books 22:00  |  Shepherd 27/02/08
      50.   But I continure to hear Olmert fiddling! 22:04  |  redmike 27/02/08
      51.   If only Ariel Sharon were alive 22:05  |  Sidney 27/02/08
      52.   #39 - and the moon is made of cheese :-) 22:07  |  redmike 27/02/08
      53.   Olmerts " Shock and Awe" 22:09  |  Gary Pineda 27/02/08
      54.   YAAKOV SULLIVAN LOL LOL LO 22:12  |  TOBIA 27/02/08
      55.   Bullies 22:13  |  Palestinian Brit 27/02/08
      56.   golani 22:14  |  shai 27/02/08
      57.   WAGE THIS WAR ALREADY! WE ARE SICK OF DYING 22:37  |  Spirit of Sderot 27/02/08
      58.   WITH YOU N°51 AT 100% 22:43  |  shaoul 27/02/08
      59.   Olmert- Israel deserve this jackass 22:47  |  Hartley 27/02/08
      60.   To Clickdick 22:49  |  Oleg 27/02/08
      61.   Yaakoiv Sulivan 22:52  |  Oleg 27/02/08
      62.   How long until Israeli`s overthrow Olmert 22:53  |  nunya 27/02/08
      63.   Simplest way 22:55  |  Rav Harley 27/02/08
      64.   To Palestinian Brit 22:56  |  Oleg 27/02/08
      65.   To Assadullah 22:59  |  Oleg 27/02/08
      66.   yak tak yak, guming words will not stop the rockets we need teeth 23:00  |  ralph 27/02/08
      67.   To Hartley 23:01  |  Oleg 27/02/08
      68.   To Hartley 23:01  |  Oleg 27/02/08
      69.   To Dutch 23:08  |  Oleg 27/02/08
      70.   Olmert Qassams Gazza 23:11  |  Gabriel 27/02/08
      71.