PM Olmert: Another round of violence between us and the terrorist regime that controls the Gaza

      Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed the situation in the south: "The weekend was marked by another round of violence between us and the terrorist regime that controls the Gaza Strip. Several months ago, the terrorist organizations committed themselves to understandings, the goal of which was to achieve calm. Recently, they have repeatedly tried to frustrate these understandings whether by digging tunnels designed to facilitate the perpetration of attacks and suicide actions against Israelis, by firing GRAD and Kassam rockets at civilian communities and by attempts to attack IDF forces near the border fence. It is no secret that Israel did not wholeheartedly embrace the understandings that gave rise to the situation defined as calm but it honored them unilaterally. The responsibility for breaking the calm and creating a situation of recurrent continuing violence in the South lays entirely with Hamas and the other terrorist organizations active in the Gaza Strip. Let nobody come to the Government of Israel and claim otherwise. Last week, I visited the IDF Gaza Division. In any case, we cannot tolerate the price that the terrorist organizations are trying to set for the prevailing situation there. It is our right to prevent further terrorism, threats and the breaking of the calm that is harming – first and foremost – the residents of the area. We have acted, and we will continue to act, by every proper means in order to prevent a situation in which this 'calm' from working against the security of the residents of Israel. Following last week's Cabinet discussion and assessments that I held this past Friday with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and senior defense establishment officials, I have instructed the latter to submit to me – as soon as possible – their proposals for formulating an action plan that will – if necessary – be submitted to the proper Government officials in order to – inter alia – restore full quiet in the South. I have also instructed that the ongoing discussions between the defense and legal establishments be brought to a close forthwith, so that the Cabinet might be briefed on the options for action against Hamas's terrorist regime and its military arm, without their being subject to restrictions that could harm our ability to employ the necessary strength to respond to these violations of the calm. I know that tempers are rising and various voices are being heard. My Government has always acted, in such situations, with equanimity and sagacity in making its decisions and thus we will act now".(23,00)