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Last update - 15:43 02/06/2008 Defense Minister Barak: Hamas is exhibiting signs of distress By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Palestinian, Hamas  Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday said that Israel has identified signs of distress coming from Hamas. According to the defense minister, some 70 Hamas fighters have been killed during the last two months, and more than 300 have been killed during the past six months. "Hamas is very stressed. The most effective action is the siege," Barak said, referring to the Israeli-imposed economic blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Israel imposed the blockade on Gaza after the Islamist group seized power over the impoverished coastal strip last June. Since then, Israel has allowed only basic staples to be transported through the border crossings it controls, into Gaza. Addressing the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Barak also praised recent Egyptian efforts to prevent the smuggling of weapons from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, saying a significant improvement has been made, but stressing that still more can be done. Advertisement In regard to the Iranian nuclear threat, Barak said that the last thing that will prevent Iran from gaining nuclear capability is more talking and harsh words. He added that in his opinion Iran is continuing to pursue nuclear weapons. "The state of Israel must take action to prevent the nuclear threat from materializing, and there is a lot that can be done," he said. The defense minister also addressed the security situation in the Gaza Strip, saying that military operations in the Palestinian territory should be undertaken with much self-restraint and should be well thought out in advance. Israel regularly carries out attacks in the Gaza Strip in efforts to curb ongoing Palestinian rocket fire into southern Israeli communities. "My job as the defense minister, and the Israel Defense Forces' job, is to bring back peace and security to the communities of southern Israel," Barak said. "We will do it, and we won't be deterred from any operation," he added. In response to the question why the issue of a cease fire agreement between Israel and Hamas was not brought before the cabinet for discussion, the defense minister replied that if Israel wants to survive, the cabinet is too wide a forum in which to discuss sensitive Israeli considerations that could easily leak back to Hamas. Barak also addressed the controversy surrounding Israeli roadblocks in the West Bank, which Israel maintains are a security necessity but Palestinians say substantially disrupt their lives, saying that Israel has already done as much as it possibly can do in the matter. "If a Palestinian day in not 24 hours long, but 23 hours and 20 minutes long because of the [wait at the] roadblocks, that's the price of Israeli citizens' safety." Finally, Barak said he believed that the recently revived indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria would not yield results by the end of the year. Barak added that he thought it was obvious to all sides that the country that will ultimately have to endorse the negotiations is the United States. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Word wars Hamas reverses effort to improve portrayal of Jews in Palestinian text books. Cyber-pimps beware MK Gal-On's proposed bill would jail 'online brothel managers' for 5 years.   1.   Martyrdom is not stressful for Hamas, but a way of... 13:20  |  Avi 02/06/08   2.   Don`t need to be a political genius to see that 13:33  |  ScotGuy 02/06/08   3.   Impoverished 13:36  |  Ricardo Levy 02/06/08   4.   If seige successful then Olmert-Livni-Barak must be about to ... 13:44  |  Aussie Michael 02/06/08   5.   Barak is clearly having a laugh 13:45  |  Jamie 02/06/08   6.   Barak in wonderland 13:54  |  Natallie Durson 02/06/08   7.   Natalie Durson 14:06  |  rich 02/06/08   8.   Well thank you Jamie #5 for letting us have the World Bank view 14:07  |  Aussie Michael 02/06/08   9.   #7- rich - Natalie should lead Hizbollah 14:28  |  ScotGuy 02/06/08   10.   300 Islamofascists killed in 6 months, EXCELLENT 14:36  |  maurice 02/06/08   11.   It`s not just the World Bank 14:37  |  Jamie 02/06/08   12.   vice verca 14:44  |  Pierre Palestinian 02/06/08   13.   Barak is reputed to be a certified war criminal,and has boasted 14:59  |  lakshmi 02/06/08   14.   Hamas a failure 15:10  |  MichaelF 02/06/08   15.   Sounds Right 15:13  |  ERSB 02/06/08   16.   Jamie -give up - they`re all the same... 15:13  |  Aussie Michael 02/06/08   17.   The boasts of a War Criminal... 15:18  |  POP 02/06/08   18.   Send them some Valium or something to smoke 15:20  |  Free Gilad Shalit 02/06/08   19.   Barak is simply following the guidelines in `securing the realm` 15:26  |  Palestinian in UK 02/06/08   20.   for 6 and 12 15:29  |  joseph theeboom 02/06/08   21.   for 6 and 12 15:29  |  joseph theeboom 02/06/08   22.   The people of Gaza. 15:29  |  Jean Van Daem 02/06/08   23.   Sickening 15:32  |  JJ burke 02/06/08   24.   Eilatan Nosrud 15:35  |  Durson`s Looking Gla 02/06/08   25.   Total bullshit 15:43  |  Boris 02/06/08   26.   "My job is to bring back peace and security to the communities o 15:45  |  Philpe 02/06/08   27.   #16: Not a surprising response... 15:53  |  Jamie 02/06/08   28.   #13 lakshmi - REPUTED? 15:58  |  * BEN JABO 02/06/08   29.   #23 JJ BURKE HK 16:07  |  * BEN JABO 02/06/08   30.   Hamas is exhibiting signs of stress but I do like ceacefire idea 16:10  |  zionist forever 02/06/08   31.   natallie durson the fact that hamas is begging for a ceasefire 16:11  |  avihu 02/06/08   32.   Jamie #27 - get a life and avoid the NGOs 16:12  |  Aussie Michael 02/06/08   33.   natallie durson and rockets 16:15  |  avihu 02/06/08   34.   Keep Hammering Them 16:15  |  Jane 02/06/08   35.   the burke jj burke "starving a population" 16:21  |  avihu 02/06/08   36.   Considerations for a cease fire 16:30  |  Tosefta 02/06/08   37.   BARAK DOES NOT SPEAK ABOUT ISRAELIS DISTRESS;HE WILL NOT HESITATE 16:33  |  glenna 02/06/08   38.   Jamie # 27 What Human Rights? 17:10  |  Jeff Northridge 02/06/08   39.   Considerations against cease fire 17:27  |  Anti-Tossefta 02/06/08   40.   Not so old history 17:32  |  X 02/06/08   41.   All Politics 17:45  |  Dave Duncan 02/06/08   42.   300 if far from enough 17:57  |  Mark Bernadiner 02/06/08   43.   Another long Tosefta study #36. And conclusion? 18:02  |  S 02/06/08   44.   end the west bank road blocks 18:12  |  roberta 02/06/08   45.   The third way; complexity vs. simpletonicity (S #43) 18:19  |  Tosefta 02/06/08   46.   Daily they acquire more rockets, more trained fighters, more 18:20  |  David 02/06/08   47.   avihu - Hamas doesn`t expect Israel to agree to ceasefire 18:27  |  Natallie Durson 02/06/08   48.   Jamie the genius and friends 18:28  |  David 02/06/08   49.   #39 Anti-Tossefta in more than one way 18:37  |  Tosefta 02/06/08   50.   #44 roberta - not by the hair of your chinny chin chin 18:45  |  * BEN JABO 02/06/08   51.   Iranian defense minister: Israel is exhibiting signs of distress 19:08  |  Aounist 02/06/08   52.   Tosefta speaking about my "family" again. You are an IDIOT! 19:10  |  S 02/06/08   53.   Barak talks ,Iran builds its nuclear missiles / 19:16  |  Joshua 02/06/08   54.   Hamas`s distress. 19:19  |  David Nigel Braham 02/06/08   55.   Dude, are you completely Tossed? 19:43  |  Anti-Tossefta 02/06/08   56.   Hamas is a cancer...it spreads. Blockage is effective treatment 19:44  |  David 02/06/08   57.   Tosefta # 45 The Third Way 19:46  |  Jeff Northridge 02/06/08   58.   This video shows Barak is ignorant or worse 19:54  |  Marcus 02/06/08   59.   Absurdity according to Tossi: occupied = fully dominant 19:54  |  Anti-Tossefta 02/06/08   60.   tosefta and "anti rocket system" 20:10  |  napthali 02/06/08   61.   tosefta "why does israel want a truce" 20:14  |  napthali 02/06/08   62.   tosefta "hamas wants israel to concede a ceasefire 20:19  |  napthali 02/06/08   63.   tosefta "smuggling of arms not a factor" 20:23  |  napthali 02/06/08   64.   Natalie Durson-"In Love with Hamas" #3 20:23  |  Albert 02/06/08   65.   tossefta why israel does not want a truce 20:25  |  napthali 02/06/08   66.   tosefta "after 120 gazans were killed in one week 20:27  |  napthali 02/06/08   67.   tosefta "why does hamas want a truce?" 20:29  |  napthali 02/06/08   68.   tosefta "taking gaza is costly" 20:32  |  napthali 02/06/08   69.   viva israel 20:34  |  evelyn-the chrisitan 02/06/08   70.   natallie durson wrong spin 20:38  |  avihu 02/06/08   71.   Return of the shallow multi-headed Hydra/Napthali 20:39  |  Tosefta 02/06/08   72.   natallie durson israel has been playing the settlements game for 20:41  |  avihu 02/06/08   73.   aounist you boss has become a eunuch 20:43  |  samir geagea 02/06/08   74.   A special offer to Anti-Tossefta #55; S #52 20:44  |  Uncle Joe Institute 02/06/08   75.   tosefta "the arms smuggling is going on anyway" 20:46  |  napthali 02/06/08   76.   Anti-Tossefta # 59 Good Point! 22:21  |  Jeff Northridge 02/06/08   77.   napthali - Leave, U R too ignorant to do the Job 22:25  |  Ahmed 02/06/08   78.   Ghastly Impostor #71 returns headless and still 23:23  |  Genuine Tosefta 02/06/08   79.   Aounist, Iranians in Iran say that regime shows signs of distress 23:25  |  Genuine Tosefta 02/06/08   80.   We should boycotted some of you - why? 23:30  |  RW 02/06/08   81.   #56 Gee David 23:32  |  ballistic 02/06/08   82.   to the Hydra 23:47  |  x-ray 02/06/08   83.   The advantage of following the news (Jeff Northridge #57) 01:30  |  Tosefta 03/06/08   84.   Response to Boris (25) - So True 01:46  |  Tod Zuckerman 03/06/08   85.   Barak and the victory of hope over reality 01:46  |  Labhras 03/06/08   86.   barak 01:48  |  azad 03/06/08   87.   #74 Uncle Joe,s institute 01:52  |  Labhras 03/06/08   88.   #45 Tosefta re smuggling of arms 02:03  |  Labhras 03/06/08   89.   The entire Conflict showing all the signs of fatigue 02:39  |  Akram Zekaria 03/06/08   90.   Glenna you are full of hatred you need your head & heart examined 04:49  |  VM 03/06/08   91.   Haaretz where is your standard? 05:02  |  RW 03/06/08   92.   Barak, Olmert & Livni should all resign, They are all defeatists 05:09  |  Robert Schwartz 03/06/08   93.   Hamas Stressed? 07:59  |  Andrew 03/06/08   94.   Thank you RW#91 about Haaretz`s standards 08:52  |  S 03/06/08   95.   #91 Say RW 09:02  |  ballistic 03/06/08   96.   #80 RW, "false identity and false history" 09:04  |  ballistic 03/06/08   97.   Yes, well Cheney told us that Al Qaida 09:08  |  ballistic 03/06/08   98.   Natalie Durson & fight against terror 09:19  |  Savta Yudit 03/06/08   99.   x-ray-82 12:28  |  John.Syracuse 03/06/08   100.   For Genuine Tosefta # 79 18:32  |  Fortuna Benmayor 03/06/08   101.   Fortuna, remember the Soviet Union at the height of power in 1980 07:12  |  Genuine Tosefta 04/06/08   102.   Fortuna, remember the Soviet Union cont. 17:10  |  Genuine Tosefta 04/06/08

Read & React Olmert to AIPAC: We must stop Iran threat by all possible means Responses: 132 Diplomats: Syria won't let IAEA see 3 alleged nuclear sites Responses: 115 Moshe Arens: A truce in Gaza means victory for the terrorists Responses: 33 Palestinian negotiator: Only miracle can bring peace by year's end Responses: 32 Assad says talks hinge on stability of current Israeli cabinet Responses: 17 Rosner's Domain Americans want talks with Iranian leadership (WTR) Obama leads in Lieberman land (WTR) McCain has been hammering at Obama Guest: Why educate child as Jew when he is not Jewish? Poll: What political option is better for Israel? More Headlines 16:30 Palestinian negotiator: Only a miracle will bring peace by year's end 14:19 Olmert to AIPAC: We must stop the Iranian threat 15:25 Israel eases exit restrictions for 4 of 7 Gaza Fulbright scholars 14:25 Suspected Haredi child abuser Elior Chen turns himself in to Brazilian authorities 14:14 Defense sources: Syria arming Hezbollah, despite peace talks 17:11 Rabbis launch 'prayer for Europe' at EU ceremony 11:36 Obama wins enough delegates to seal nomination, but Clinton won't quit 16:17 Knesset advances bill to make Jerusalem capital of the Jewish people 16:46 Saudi meet aims to launch interfaith dialogue of monotheistic religions 16:34 Knesset bill toughens penalty for attacking medical staff 16:46 Dollar rebounds against the shekel, trading at NIS 3.322 16:18 Ex-finance minister Hirchson indicted for stealing NIS 2 million Previous Editions Select Day 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may

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