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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and U.S. President George Bush at President's Conference in Jerusalem (Maya Levin / Jini)
Last update - 11:51 15/05/2008
Barak: It won't be long before Israel can stop rocket fire
By Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Qassam, Ehud Barak, Ashkelon 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday that Israel would be able to obliterate rocket fire from the Gaza Strip in the near future.

"The government will work toward an absolute end to Qassam rocket fire, and we are not talking about a prolonged period of months," he said while on a visit to Ashkelon where a rocket struck on Wednesday, wounding some 90 people in various conditions.

Barak added that Wednesday's attack "proves that despite our military action in Gaza, the militants are still firing. If the rocket had hit the main rafter near the building's roof, we would be attending funerals today and not just inspecting the situation on the ground."
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Speaking to Ashkelon Mayor Roni Mehatzri, Barak said: "Your ability to keep the city's residents involved in their daily routines is essential and important to us, and will enable the army to act in the correct manner."

Barak was accompanied by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and GOC Home Front Command Yair Golan on his tour of the stricken mall.

After his visit, Barak was briefed potential rocket attacks on Ashkelon from representatives of the GOC Home Front Command, police, Magen David Adom and fire department representatives.

Meanwhile, Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin told Haaretz this week that within two years, all communities in a 40-kilometer radius of Gaza could be vulnerable to rocket attacks.
Olmert: Israel is committed to stopping Gaza rocket attacks

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told participants at the "Facing Tomorrow" presidential conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday that Israel's government was committed to stopping the rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, moments after a Grad rocket slammed into an Ashkelon shopping mall, wounding at least 80 people.

The prime minister condemned the attack, saying "what happened today was entirely intolerable and unacceptable."

He went on to say that the government would "take the necessary steps so that this will stop."

During a joint press conference with Bush prior to the attack, Olmert had foreshadowed the events of the day when he said that Israel would not tolerate attacks by Hamas, adding that he hoped Israel would not have to "act against Hamas in other ways with military power that Israel hasn't yet started to use in a serious manner."

Barak was notified of the rocket attack in Ashkelon during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday.

Barak invited Rice to visit the site of the attack so that she could form her own impressions of the reality to which the city's residents are susceptible.

Barak and MKs Eli Yishai, Avi Dichter and Itzhak Cohen said, in response to the rocket attack, that they would not attend a scheduled dinner with U.S. President George W. Bush. Instead, the four ministers planned to travel to Ashkelon to inspect the situation on the ground.

MKs blast government foot-dragging on rockets

Upon arriving at the scene Wednesday night, Yishai said, "We should not have gotten into this situation, and it is time for us to speak less and act more."

Likud MK Yuval Steinitz said in response that "the government of Israel, which has time and time again been warned of the foot-dragging against Hamas, cannot wash its hands of this. Instead of negotiating an imaginary peace, it is time for the government to instruct the IDF to decide the real war."

MK Aryeh Eldad on Wednesday night told Ashkelon's mayor to call for an immediate general strike in the city, including the education, trade and transportation systems, until the government "assumes responsibility once again for the lives of its citizens."

In an interview with Army Radio, Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said that Israel must break the Hamas stronghold in Gaza. Sneh explained that the Qassam rocket was manufactured in Iran and launched from Gaza, with the intention of hitting Ashkelon. He added, "This is part of the Iranian war on Israel, which intends to gain control of the Middle East."

Sneh said that Wednesday's attack was a reminder of why Israel is not interested in negotiating with Hamas. "There is no foundation for it and we got the proof for that today."

Related articles:
  • Gaza rocket hits Ashkelon mall; several people hurt
  • PM at Peres conference: We're committed to stopping Gaza rockets strikes
  • 40 families leaving Gaza border community after member killed
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      1.   Yishai said, "... it is time for us to speak less and do more." 21:57  |  bat yam 14/05/08
      2.   Barak 22:08  |  Ralph 14/05/08
      3.   Terror attack 22:10  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 14/05/08
      4.   well said, mks. now please act. & don`t stop till you get enough. 22:14  |  frenz 14/05/08
      5.   Bush`s silence is defeaning! 22:18  |  Mike 14/05/08
      6.   Condi 22:25  |  Jane 14/05/08
      7.   There`s a method to this madness:No IDF action= 22:26  |  Absolute Sweden 14/05/08
      8.   No more words, it is time for action!!! 22:41  |  Avi 14/05/08
      9.   When will the government take action 22:58  |  michael 14/05/08
      10.   lets all pray the next rocket hits cabinet room at the knesset 23:17  |  chaim 14/05/08
      11.   Lot`s of unused clusters in weapons stores 23:27  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08
      12.   Condi 23:56  |  ron 14/05/08
      13.   DDF Ephraim Sneh, one sane person in Israel 00:30  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/05/08
      14.   WE NEED ACTING NOW 00:51  |  issam ghallab 15/05/08
      15.   80 people? Big deal. Believe me. Could be a worse. Am I upset? No 00:53  |  Ehud Olmert 15/05/08
      16.   Said it before. I`ll say it again. You wan`t and end to this? 00:59  |  Pssd off American. 15/05/08
      17.   Bush/Olmart Pals indisquise 00:59  |  Fred 15/05/08
      18.   Israel is committed 01:16  |  mike 15/05/08
      19.   BUSH-ISRAEL 01:21  |  JOHN HASHEM 15/05/08
      20.   NPR does not even run this story 01:25  |  Bob 15/05/08
      21.   The degree of commitment is really telling 01:34  |  Avi 15/05/08
      22.   Time for ground forces to act. Also time to.... 01:45  |  Stephen. 15/05/08
      23.   ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THIS WOULD BE AN ACT OF WAR 01:46  |  PalestniansAreA Myth 15/05/08
      24.   incompetent government 01:51  |  Zev 15/05/08
      25.   Bush would not be committed - He would just do it 01:59  |  Beni 15/05/08
      26.   They are NOT committed to stopping attacks 02:03  |  judith 15/05/08
      27.   Want peace? Then start making peace. 02:30  |  gearoid 15/05/08
      28.   olmert does not protect the people of Israel. 02:35  |  dante 15/05/08
      29.   Since when are you "committed to stop" this, Olmert? 02:42  |  Fortuna Benmayor 15/05/08
      30.   Responding to Gearoid 03:04  |  Gene 15/05/08
      31.   no. 18 Gearoid 03:05  |  Sam C 15/05/08
      32.   Olmert`s policies have been towards encouraging attacks 03:17  |  Dutch 15/05/08
      33.   rockets 03:29  |  howie d 15/05/08
      34.   Olmert: Israel is committed to stopping Gaza rocket attacks 03:37  |  TonyL 15/05/08
      35.   no. 20, Dutch, I`m confused with your logic 03:50  |  Sam C 15/05/08
      36.   A cease fire is essential to progress 04:10  |  Tosefta 15/05/08
      37.   #16 lessons of war and peace 04:35  |  K 15/05/08
      38.   We Three Kings of Orient Are ... 05:44  |  Shimon Cleopas 15/05/08
      39.   Olmert, enough with the use of future tense, enough! 06:16  |  Amotz 15/05/08
      40.   Dutch 06:19  |  Jabotinsky 15/05/08
      41.   Stop bullshitting 06:35  |  real vision 15/05/08
      42.   Olmert conveniently forgets the ceasefire 06:50  |  Natallie Durson 15/05/08
      43.   Olmert`s response 06:55  |  Yanosh 15/05/08
      44.   After Bush`s visit Palestinian terrorists will be massacred 06:58  |  Promise! 15/05/08
      45.   Shame on the government of Israel 07:07  |  Vladislav Sandler 15/05/08
      46.   # 18 - Gearoid 07:16  |  Yanosh 15/05/08
      47.   #25 Nutallie - What ceasfire 07:19  |  * BEN JABO 15/05/08
      48.   Does ANYBODY Believe This SOB ? 07:23  |  Tod Zuckerman 15/05/08
      49.   # 25 - Durson 07:36  |  Yanosh 15/05/08
      50.   For 8 years they repeatedly say they`re committed to stopping Gaz 07:38  |  Joseph . E 15/05/08
      51.   Surrender Jewish Lands Increase Insecurity : Conflict of Interest 07:53  |  Joseph . E 15/05/08
      52.   To the so called Dutch 08:01  |  Dan 15/05/08
      53.   Justification for collective punishments ! 08:18  |  Jean Van Daem 15/05/08
      54.   TIME FOR THE USA TO CHANGE `IT`S` POLICY TOWARDS THE PALESTINIANS 08:22  |  David 15/05/08
      55.   What Palistinians ? They are plain criminals 08:28  |  Lavy 15/05/08
      56.   8,000+ Rockets and this guy still speaks of COMMITMENTS!!! 08:39  |  Yaakov 15/05/08
      57.   Committed... 08:44  |  Gabe 15/05/08
      58.   Olmert 08:54  |  Steve 15/05/08
      59.   OLMERT/LIVNI/BARAK TO BLAME..... 09:00  |  Orpheus 15/05/08
      60.   Olmert now impotent, impeach and move on. 09:01  |  George 15/05/08
      61.   Dutch #20 09:13  |  Steve 15/05/08
      62.   PM Olmert with the heart of David 11:12  |  Jonathan 15/05/08
      63.   Wrong targets 11:17  |  arun 15/05/08
      64.   Lot of Blah Blah 12:05  |  David 15/05/08
      65.   No chance of IDF assult. 13:03  |  guy 15/05/08
      66.   Barak, when you have to shoot, shoot. Don`t talk. 13:06  |  MR 15/05/08
      67.   Militant 13:17  |  Mark 15/05/08
      68.   want peace? end the war 13:30  |  peter 15/05/08
      69.   LIKE WHAT ISRAEL DID TO HEZBOLLAH IN 2006, BARAK? 14:03  |  indrajaya 15/05/08
      70.