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Last update - 21:12 24/06/2008 Olmert: Israel mulling response to renewed Qassam fire By Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Olmert, Israel, Qassam, Gaza Prime Minister Ehud Olmert addressed the renewed Qassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, saying "this is a blatant unequivocal violation of the understandings in the cease fire agreement." Islamic Jihad militants in the Gaza Strip fired four Qassam rockets into southern Israel Tuesday afternoon, breaking a six-day-old truce between Israel and Hamas, which calls for an end to rocket fire and to Israeli military operations in the Strip. Two Israelis were lightly hurt in the Qassam attack and two others were treated for shock. Advertisement Deputy Prime Minister and Shas chairman Eli Yishai voiced his outrage at the Qassam attack on Tuesday, saying that it was proof that the truce was merely virtual. "This is what we were afraid of. It was unequivocally proven to us that there isn't anyone to talk to, and there is certainly nothing to talk about. These are the buds of Hamas' growing strength which we need to nip immediately." MK Yisrael Katz (Likud) also responded to the cease fire violation charging that the government had failed. "We abandoned Gilad Shalit and we didn't get a cease fire, which was broken before it even began. The government must respond immediately with outstanding force to the rockets fired on Sderot, otherwise is will lose its power of deterrence and the residents of the Negev will be totally abandoned." While Islamic Jihad said it would abide by the cease-fire, the group has also said it would reserve the right "to respond to the Zionist violations" of the truce. The rocket attacks were in apparent response to an Israel Defense Forces raid on the West Bank, in which two Jihad militants were killed. The cease-fire agreement does not include or limit IDF activities in the West Bank. Gaza's Hamas rulers issued a statement saying that they were still committed to the cease-fire with Israel, despite the small militant group's obvious violation of its terms. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official, responded to the attacks by urging "all Palestinian factions to abide by the calm agreement," adding: "Hamas is keen to maintain the deal." Meanwhile, the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers called Tuesday for Israel and militants in Gaza to respect the cease-fire agreement in full and voiced hope that the truce will last. The Quartet - made up of the U.S., the European Union, the UN and Russia - issued its statement after a meeting Tuesday, called in response to the rocket attacks. In the statement, the Quartet expressed its continuing support for Egyptian efforts to restore calm to Gaza and southern Israel and welcomed the period of calm that began on June 19. "To maintain the calm will be the most beneficial for everybody," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters after the meeting. The Quartet also expressed support for steady and sufficient supplies of fuel to Gaza and for the immediate resumption of stalled UN and other donor projects there. Tuesday's statement also called on both Israelis and Palestinians to fulfill all of their obligations under the road map plan for peace. It urged Israel to freeze all settlement activity and for continued Palestinian efforts to fight terrorism. Related articles: Gaza truce shaken as four Qassams slam into west Negev Hamas: Arms smuggling to continue despite Gaza truce IDF to scale back troop numbers around Gaza in next stage of cease-fire Bookmark to del.icio.us   Kosher Idol A new Haredi reality show called 'The Upcoming Voice' makes 'American Idol' kosher. Chief Rabbi's savior New look at Nazi-era papers names mysterious rescuer of future Chief Rabbi.   1.   Anyone have a 2X4?????? 21:23  |  Gideon Reader 24/06/08   2.   "mulling"???,... Mulling??? We should be MAULING!!! 22:18  |  Akiva P 24/06/08   3.   #1 I agrre but... 22:20  |  Peter 24/06/08   4.   Hamas is responsible for what happens on Hamas territory 22:22  |  Realist 24/06/08   5.   #1, Gideon Reader... 22:23  |  Silvienne 24/06/08   6.   NO ONE, NEVER WAS, NEVER WILL BE a peace.. 22:55  |  jewish doctor 24/06/08   7.   Mulling=Olmerts way of saying he won`t do a damn thing about it!! 23:01  |  Rueben 24/06/08   8.   Legitimate response 23:28  |  Clickfool 24/06/08   9.   Oh No, The pathetic IDF is going to bomb another empty field. 23:40  |  Gary A., MD 24/06/08   10.   Olmert`s legacy... 23:57  |  bat yam 24/06/08   11.   Olmert mulling response 00:01  |  Jeff 25/06/08   12.   Clickfool`s lack of geographical knowledge 00:07  |  Free Gilad Shalit 25/06/08   13.   Level gaza! Push arabs into Egypt! 00:09  |  Avram 25/06/08   14.   Qassam rocket fire: how unusual & unexpected 00:11  |  Zvi 25/06/08   15.   Smell the coffee Israel 00:12  |  Slappy 25/06/08   16.   FAKE CLICKFOOL ALERT 00:13  |  Slappy 25/06/08   17.   Truce 00:16  |  komando pop 25/06/08   18.   Clickfool 00:55  |  Avrum 25/06/08   19.   Legitimate response too 01:07  |  Clickfool 25/06/08   20.   enforce truce 01:16  |  Esteban 25/06/08   21.   CLICKFOOL - THANKS SLAPPY 01:31  |  indrajaya 25/06/08   22.   No need to mull. End of lull if any qassams on Wed. 01:50  |  Free Gilad Shalit 25/06/08   23.   Mull 01:58  |  Dov 25/06/08   24.   stop mulling about it and do it 02:13  |  vik 25/06/08   25.   The response now has to be very harsh 02:18  |  BradL. 25/06/08   26.   HE WILL KEEP MULLING IT OVER UNTIL MORE ISRAELIS ARE MURDERED!!! 06:59  |  glenna 25/06/08   27.   #19 Reminder - since we don`t which Indrajaya is fake ... 09:31  |  DesMnsDave 25/06/08   28.   Too much hate 17:33  |  Peaceful Platypus 25/06/08   29.   #28 HOW LONG DO THE ISRAELIS HAVE TO HAVE PATIENCE AND UNDERSTAND 05:39  |  glenna 27/06/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: Perhaps we killed Christ after all Responses: 300 Report: Israel prefers Hamas prisoners be released to Gaza, not West Bank Responses: 149 Hamas: Qassam fire harms Palestinian national interest Responses: 257 Israel and Hezbollah ready to sign on prisoner swap deal Responses: 143 Nadav Shragai: Without Golan referendum, we will face another Gaza Responses: 75 Rosner's Domain What if the Chinese were to apply the Carter Doctrine? Do Jews have special responsibility over Darfur? (WTR) Guest: Hamas was granted legitimacy by the Israeli government Poll: exchange deal with Hezbollah, good or bad? Religion is not very important to American Jews More Headlines 03:43 Shin Bet head agrees to free prisoners 'with blood on their hands' 04:15 Olmert associates on Kadima-Labor deal: Barak ran away like battered dog 23:41 Israel to keep Gaza crossings shut Friday, allow fuel transfer 01:41 Senior bankers: Strong shekel a strategic threat to Israeli economy 03:47 In spite of German talk, trade with Iran growing 05:07 HIV diagnoses in Israel climb; new cases among gays up sharply 04:44 Jerusalem & Babylon / Critical dialogue 20:29 3,000 turn out for contentious Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem 03:19 Foreign Ministry head briefed IAEA envoys in secret 03:13 Modest costumes for Chords Bridge dancers tied to J'lem city elections 20:57 A new Haredi reality show makes 'American Idol' kosher 21:02 New look at Nazi-era papers names mysterious rescuer of future Chief Rabbi 22:45 Erekat: If Olmert, Abbas achieve peace, they'll be biggest people in Jerusalem since Jesus 23:47 Hamas: Qassam fire is harming Palestinian interests Previous Editions Select Day 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun

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