Olmert: Israel to respond 'severely' to ongoing Qassam rocket fire - Haaretz

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Sun., September 09, 2007 Elul 26, 5767

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		Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Tzipi Livni speaking during a press conference in Jerusalem on Monday. (AP)

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Last update - 22:26 07/05/2007

Olmert: Israel to respond 'severely' to ongoing Qassam rocket fire

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that Israel would "respond severely" to the ongoing Qassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, saying the fire "threatens civilian lives in the northern Negev," according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.

"The Qassam attacks constitute a tangible threat to Israel," said Olmert, during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "Israel cannot show restraint forever."

The Israel Air Force fired on a Qassam-firing squad in northern Gaza on Monday, wounding one militant, hours after a Qassam rocket hit a house in the center of Sderot. On Sunday, two people were wounded, one moderately, when a rocket hit a gas station near the western Negev town.

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Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reiterated a call for the PA "to take all actions needed to halt immediately the firing of rockets against Israeli population centers, which by definition target civilians."

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni however cautioned Monday against a hasty decision to invade Gaza over the continued rocket strikes, saying the government must not repeat mistakes of the Second Lebanon War.

Livni requested that the military echelons present its plans, as well as a number of alternative options, and that the Foreign Ministry be involved in any decision on how to proceed.

"I think that the time has come to change the way of working, both in the government and in the relationship between the military and diplomatic echelons," she told a joint press conference Monday following a meeting with Steinmeier.

"As a member of the cabinet, I expect that there will be a debate during which the military echelon will present its plans," she said.

"The situation in Gaza is complicated, and the government must hold a comprehensive and considered decision-making session."

The foreign minister also touched on the partial report released last week by the Winograd Committee, saying that in light of the panel's findings, she expects a change in the decision-making processes.

"These decisions are only apparently security related. The Foreign Ministry must be party to them," she said. "I expect to be given alternatives and discuss [them] in depth so that a decision can be made on the matter."

Steinmeier met separately with Livni and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on Monday to discuss the peace process and the Winograd report.

The German foreign minister, whose government currently holds the presidency of the European Union, invited Livni to discuss the Middle East peace process at an upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers.

"I told Tzipi today that I'd like the Israeli foreign minister to seize the opportunity, to present her views to the European foreign ministers one more time," he said.

The Palestinian foreign minister, Ziad Abu Amr, is scheduled to address the next meeting of foreign ministers. Livni would attend the following session, Steinmeier said.

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1.	LIVNI IS LOOKING FOR TROUBLE	14:28	\|	indrajaya	07/05/07

2.	Advice	14:48	\|	Arab Israeli	07/05/07

3.	Mixing diplomacy with military planning,	14:52	\|	Dror	07/05/07

4.	Politically Correct Timing	14:52	\|	isratinian	07/05/07

5.	Livni destroyed her credibility and proved she was a third-rater	15:05	\|	Clickfool	07/05/07

6.	A Quartet Summit needed NOW	15:11	\|	The Equalizer	07/05/07

7.	To Dror/You think she is alone?	15:12	\|	Lena	07/05/07

8.	Livni made the mistakes already	15:19	\|	Jonathan S	07/05/07

9.	Livni - Go Home to Canada !	15:21	\|	Observer	07/05/07

10.	@5, clickfool, it is incredible but i agree with you.	15:36	\|	vladimir	07/05/07

11.	If she moved to Sderot she could say it.Otherwise she`s	15:39	\|	Absolute Sweden	07/05/07

12.	Agreed. So go home!	15:51	\|	Simon	07/05/07

13.	Arab Israeli (nr 2)	15:51	\|	leon	07/05/07

14.	Oh, just don`t make other errors	16:01	\|	Shlomo from Tel-Aviv	07/05/07

15.	..the pathetic kadima trio is waitng for dead jewish children...	16:09	\|	bernard ross	07/05/07

16.	Give her a chance	16:15	\|	Frank	07/05/07

17.	ASK THE PEOPLE OF SDEROT THEIR VIEW!	16:25	\|	Ben	07/05/07

18.	Israel : Teach Them a Lesson FOREVER	16:40	\|	Vittorio	07/05/07

19.	Respond severely	16:53	\|	Hindanow	07/05/07

20.	Livni and Olmert need to resign they already got Israel in 1 war	16:56	\|	Kipperraes	07/05/07

21.	Stupid Diversion	16:59	\|	Burkhardt	07/05/07

22.	"The situation in Gaza is complicated..."	17:01	\|	Jim	07/05/07

23.	Frank	17:01	\|	rich	07/05/07

24.	#14, Shlomo from TA	17:04	\|	Fritz	07/05/07

25.	PM VS FM: WOW	17:20	\|	indrajaya	07/05/07

26.	OLMERT THREATS ARE VISIBLE AS AIR-	17:23	\|	SPTZ	07/05/07

27.	More empty promises from Olmert	17:23	\|	Asylum Aleikum	07/05/07

28.	How many times........	17:30	\|	Deborah	07/05/07

29.	The alternatives	17:33	\|	Tosefta	07/05/07

30.	For "Teach them a Lesson" Vittorio # 18	17:47	\|	Clickfool	07/05/07

31.	Olmert Saved by Qassams	17:50	\|	Butch	07/05/07

32.	why even think of invading??	17:58	\|	vik	07/05/07

33.	Tosefta you are too smart!	18:04	\|	Dean	07/05/07

34.	OLMERT STOP THREATENING, START DOING	18:12	\|	* BEN JABO	07/05/07

35.	peace	18:27	\|	elie	07/05/07

36.	No brutal occupation	18:33	\|	Dav	07/05/07

37.	Severe response to rocket fire	18:44	\|	Jack	07/05/07

38.	#24 Fritz: The IDF is not brave enough???	18:53	\|	Jim	07/05/07

39.	Talk	18:54	\|	MichaelF	07/05/07

40.	#36 - To Dav	18:55	\|	MichaelF	07/05/07

41.	The chicken and the egg (Dean #33)	18:56	\|	Tosefta	07/05/07

42.	#25 Indrajaya	18:56	\|	jewcrew	07/05/07

43.	Tosefta # 29 There Are More Alternatives	19:00	\|	Jeff Northridge	07/05/07

44.	This Girl got B*lls	19:23	\|	heinz	07/05/07

45.	#29 Tosefta, in support of your suggested WB cease-fire	19:30	\|	Smadar	07/05/07

46.	Fritz, you don`t even recognize Israel`s right to exist,	19:36	\|	Beni	07/05/07

47.	Racism	19:43	\|	Denton	07/05/07

48.	The Olmert agenda	20:22	\|	Tosefta	07/05/07

49.	# 7 Lena. while I agree with your premise,I also agree with:#1	20:26	\|	Kath`	07/05/07

50.	Livni should leave it to the Defense	20:26	\|	Brod	07/05/07

51.	Deborah # 28 The Non-Functionality of Violence	20:30	\|	Jeff Northridge	07/05/07

52.	# 41 Tosefta Who`s the clever boy then!!.But can you explain...	20:47	\|	Kath`	07/05/07

53.	Questions, questions for Dr L.Brnd # 43	20:51	\|	Clickfool	07/05/07

54.	Deborah # 28	20:54	\|	ChanahS	07/05/07

55.	For Heinz # 45	20:56	\|	Clickfool	07/05/07

56.	To clickfool.	20:58	\|	David NIgel Braham	07/05/07

57.	...doo da	21:02	\|	Clickfool	07/05/07

58.	For David Nigel Braham # 56	21:09	\|	Clickfool	07/05/07

59.	Jeff Northride & Dr. Brand; Two of a kind	21:09	\|	Tosefta	07/05/07

60.	olmert` nobody takes you seriousl	21:10	\|	chaim	07/05/07

61.	What to gain from Kassam firing?(Palestinians Victim Syndrome)	21:14	\|	Alberto Cohen	07/05/07

62.	Uncommon sense (Kath #52)	21:18	\|	Tosefta	07/05/07

63.	Livni	21:26	\|	hesselk	07/05/07

64.	#2: Olmert not in hurry to enter Gaza with IDF	21:37	\|	Paul Freedman	07/05/07

65.	#18: because it is currently considered a war crime	21:39	\|	Paul Freedman	07/05/07

66.	# 54 ChanahS and # 51 Jeff Northridge. re:Deborah U.K	21:44	\|	Kath`	07/05/07

67.	#5 Mr. Click Fool	21:50	\|	Reb Bahir	07/05/07

68.	which script to follow	21:55	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	07/05/07

69.	#30 Mr. C. Fool	21:55	\|	Reb Bahir	07/05/07

70.	#46, Beni	22:33	\|	Fritz	07/05/07

71.	do palestinians really want.....	22:36	\|	maria	07/05/07

72.	#41, Tosefta: "a trivial suggestion"	22:41	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	07/05/07

73.	Tosefta # 59 The Fact Is That...	23:27	\|	Jeff Northridge	07/05/07

74.	gaza	23:28	\|	michel	07/05/07

75.	time to cut the power	23:49	\|	David G	07/05/07

76.	@17 Ben	00:01	\|	Mark B.	08/05/07

77.	More action LESS TALK	00:09	\|	Dr David I. Gross	08/05/07

78.	To Cipora Julianna Kohn #72	00:13	\|	Mark B.	08/05/07

79.	We already did	00:33	\|	Dr David I,. Gross	08/05/07

80.	BURKHARDT Excuse me but who is firing the Qassems at whom?	00:36	\|	PETER SM	08/05/07

81.	HOW MANY TIMES NO 28.	00:40	\|	DANNY	08/05/07

82.	"Israel cannot show restraint forever."	00:50	\|	Maureen Ann	08/05/07

83.	FOOL Re credibility."Mossad kidnapped Johnstone" No UNIFIL for --	00:53	\|	PETER SM	08/05/07

84.	If Olmert would accept NEGOTIATING OVER FINAL STATUS	00:57	\|	Joe	08/05/07

85.	#77, Mark B, what cease fire?	01:30	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	08/05/07

86.	Reb Bahir #69 - Can`t Count	01:35	\|	Double Click	08/05/07

87.	#76, Mark B: the people of Sderot	01:38	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	08/05/07

88.	#58	01:47	\|	Moshe	08/05/07

89.	The narrowing path--religion	02:29	\|	Jesse Blanco	08/05/07

90.	Gaza assault came before Lebannon	02:30	\|	Pssd Off American	08/05/07

91.	# 75 David G. time to cut the power.How many times have we talked	02:43	\|	Kath`	08/05/07

92.	# 75 David G. SENT YOU A RESPONSE. AN ADDENDUM FOR A SOLUTION	03:13	\|	Kath`	08/05/07

93.	Denton #47 - Excellent post!	03:18	\|	Moises	08/05/07

94.	Maureen Ann is ranting again	03:59	\|	* BEN JABO	08/05/07

95.	MAUREEN N Your side has used war and terror from day one.	04:14	\|	PETER SM	08/05/07

96.	Tosefta... "we will be rid of Omert soon"	04:30	\|	Ben Gurion	08/05/07

97.	Cipora 72 re: Tosefta`s trivial suggestions	04:34	\|	Jewboy	08/05/07

98.	Israel should not make the same mistakes?	04:42	\|	Mark Lincoln	08/05/07

99.	Be kind to Cipora (Mark B #78)	04:54	\|	Tosefta	08/05/07

100.	The solution will not be found in killing more people.	05:17	\|	Timothy	08/05/07

101.	TO TOSEFTA	05:42	\|	indrajaya	08/05/07

102.	#91, Mark Lincoln	05:46	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	08/05/07

103.	#92, Tosefta	05:56	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	08/05/07

104.	The Gaza folly (Mark Lincoln #91)	06:00	\|	Tosefta	08/05/07

105.	Hey Joe #84, there will be no peace in our time	06:18	\|	Voice of Reason	08/05/07

106.	#95 No, VoR, Joe is correct, and you are not	06:58	\|	Johnboy	08/05/07

107.	Earthly Reality (Cipora JK #93)	07:52	\|	Tosefta	08/05/07

108.	FRITZ. #24 How would you know ? Have you fought Israelis ?	07:59	\|	PETER SM	08/05/07

109.	For Reb Bahir # 69	09:02	\|	Clickfool	08/05/07

110.	For Pssd Off American # 90	09:07	\|	Clickfool	08/05/07

111.	For Peter SM, on the brave boys of the IDF # 108	09:12	\|	Clickfool	08/05/07

112.	FOOL.The IDF Boys& Girls do not drop their guns at the sight of	09:50	\|	PETER SM	08/05/07

113.	For Peter SM # 112	10:13	\|	Clickfool	08/05/07

114.	#1111, clicky	10:25	\|	Cipora Julianna Kohn	08/05/07

115.	johnboy - #106 - on piecemeals and peacedeals (not)	10:33	\|	dana	08/05/07

116.	For Cipora # 114	10:54	\|	Clickfool	08/05/07

117.	Clicky`s memory blank...	14:56	\|	Rufus	08/05/07

118.	#54. ChanahS	16:30	\|	Deborah	08/05/07

119.	#51 Jeff Northridge	16:34	\|	Deborah	08/05/07

120.	to #24, Fritz	18:57	\|	Ca Observer	08/05/07

121.	Israel responding to ongoing Quassam rocket fire	20:48	\|	Cher	08/05/07

122.	Israel to respond `severely` to ongoing Qassam rocket fire	17:35	\|	Patrick Ardahalian	09/09/07

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