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A shoe belonging to an Ashkelon girl, 2, who was injured in Wednesday's rocket attack (Albert Sadikov / Jini)
Last update - 08:24 15/05/2008
Senior defense source: 'Israel on collision course with Hamas'
By Barak Ravid and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Israel, Hamas, Omar Suleiman 

Israel is examining the possible responses to Wednesday's Grad rocket attack on Ashkelon. At this stage, it seems there will not be a broad response and the Israel Defense Forces will settle for pinpoint attacks on the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, a senior defense source emphasized Wednesday that "Israel is on a collision course with Hamas in Gaza that is reaching its conclusion."

Alongside the targeted Israeli responses the contacts over a temporary cease-fire in Gaza are expected to continue. Israel has not ruled out such an agreement; Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman is expected to return to Israel shortly to discuss the details of his initiative vis-a-vis Hamas in light of the new Israeli demand that the agreement include significant progress toward the release of abducted soldier Gilad Shalit.

A senior government official in Jerusalem said Wednesday that Israel is interested in reaching a situation where once it decides on a broad operation in Gaza, it will receive broad international support. "Any operation in Gaza will lead to the freezing of negotiations, and we want to make sure we will not be viewed as guilty [for the freeze]," the official said.
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The operation in Gaza, which will only come after U.S. President George Bush ends his visit to Israel, is likely to include an increased number of aerial strikes, including against Hamas targets, and more ground troops will be sent on limited operations in the area near the fence surrounding Gaza.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert updated Bush on the Egyptian talks. He also noted that while Suleiman was visiting Israel Qassam rockets continued to fall on innocent civilians in the South, and two people were killed. Olmert added that it was a dangerous signal for an organization which wants to be seen as interested in ending terror to continue to fire rockets at the innocent.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak met Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and even invited her to visit Ashkelon and Sderot to view the situation from up close and to see how the people in the area live.

Barak also spoke to Rice about the situation in the West Bank. He said Israel plans to further ease restrictions on the Palestinian population there shortly, particularly in the northern West Bank.

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      1.   Israelis pay IDF fat cats who abandon them in search of "intl. su 02:27  |  Absolute Sweden 15/05/08
      2.   "broad international support" 03:27  |  Free Gilad Shalit 15/05/08
      3.   Amos Harel and Barak Ravid`s essay 03:59  |  Constance Blackwell 15/05/08
      4.   Olmert, Barak is still playing with Hamas, They just dont get it. 04:57  |  Dish It Out 15/05/08
      5.   of course we must win the pr war but also the real war which is m 05:01  |  ralph 15/05/08
      6.   Right wingers have been saying this all along 05:08  |  Avi 15/05/08
      7.   The Collision has Occurred Already 05:15  |  Straigh 15/05/08
      8.   fyi - Condi did not visit Ashkelon nor Sderot 05:16  |  Avi 15/05/08
      9.   Hamas`s hit on Ashkelon is message to the Palestinians... 05:59  |  Smadar 15/05/08
      10.   Why do they need world approval 06:00  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 15/05/08
      11.   Good! It is about time. 06:17  |  Murray the Mongoose 15/05/08
      12.   Israels lead in killing civilians grows larger 06:33  |  Natallie Durson 15/05/08
      13.   image of the little girl`s shoe 06:36  |  Theodor 15/05/08
      14.   Bye bye terrorists! 07:06  |  Action!!! 15/05/08
      15.   Rabbi Lazaros - How Many Lessons? 07:19  |  Mark of Lewiston 15/05/08
      16.   The traitor war criminal Olmert Barak and Yishai should be hanged 08:10  |  Joseph 15/05/08
      17.   Are Most Israelies Idiots ? 08:19  |  Tod Zuckerman 15/05/08
      18.   Why is Israel reacting defensively? 08:28  |  Jean Van Daem 15/05/08
      19.   SOLUTION: GAZA A NEW DUBAI; PARTS OF W.BANK FEDERATED WITH JORDAN 08:40  |  G. Marcus 15/05/08
      20.   HAMAS, YOUR TIME IS COMING... 08:41  |  BOB KING 15/05/08
      21.   A VICTIM OF AN IGNORANT GOVERNMENT 08:48  |  indrajaya 15/05/08
      22.   #5 08:57  |  Dave 15/05/08
      23.   how about not killing Gazan civilians? 09:09  |  Sarah 15/05/08
      24.   Gnat Durson and civilians 09:15  |  Oddvark 15/05/08
      25.   Indra and blame 09:28  |  Oddvark 15/05/08
      26.   Dave and 1948 09:30  |  Oddvark 15/05/08
      27.   #10 10:06  |  Maurice 15/05/08
      28.   #20 10:30  |  mrjones 15/05/08
      29.   #18 Marcus 11:23  |  bill 15/05/08
      30.   Looking for ntl. support is very good and wise. 11:53  |  Fortuna Benmayor 15/05/08
      31.   Smadar 12:17  |  x-ray 15/05/08
      32.   Excuse me...I thought we were at war with Gaza..! 13:18  |  Stephen. 15/05/08
      33.   #21, 14:03  |  jeff 15/05/08
      34.   Will some M.K. write bill that makes it a serious crime for gov`t 01:09  |  M. Potent 16/05/08
      35.   These militants... 05:21  |  steven 16/05/08
      36.   #13, Theodor, it`s also reminiscent of many a Pal child`s shoes 05:26  |  newageblues 16/05/08
      37.   israel uses its citizens as fodder for its aims 09:22  |  eric 16/05/08
      38.   #19 Why only a PART of the West Bank, Marcus? 10:02  |  Johnboy 16/05/08
      39.   Israel on Collision Course with Hamas 17:24  |  Joe Charlaff 16/05/08
      40.   #7 06:12  |  sam 17/05/08
      41.   ...on collision course.." 05:08  |  lainey 18/05/08
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