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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Flash90)
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| By Israel Insider staff September 11, 2007 |
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| A Palestinian Islamic Jihad supporter gives out sweets to celebrate the Qassam attack that injured 69 soldiers (Flash90) |
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IAF planes attacked targets in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, injuring four Palestinians, in response to the Qassam attack that wounded 69 soldiers earlier the same day, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Government officials are deciding what steps to take next.
Several MKs have urged the government to launch a large-scale operation in Gaza in response to the recent escalation of rocket attacks against Israel.
MK Effi Eitam of National Union-National Religious Party said Tuesday that "it is clear to all those that wanted to avoid an IDF operation that the army must act," Haaretz reported. Eitam added that the leaders of the militants groups would be legitimate targets during an operation.
MK Gideon Sa'ar of Likud echoed Eitam's criticism and blamed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's administration for its "failure to face up to reality and grapple with the Hamas state in the Gaza Strip." He called for an extensive military operation, including a "ground aspect."
The IDF appears reluctant to launch a major ground operation in the Gaza Strip, citing the complexities of the situation.
"A military operation is not a trivial thing. We need to take several considerations into account, including casualties on our side. As such, the decision is not a simple or easy one," a military source told Ynet Tuesday.
"We need to remember that we're not operating against only Qassams and any military action needs to target terror of all kinds," the source stressed. "Even if we go out on a particular operation, there's no guarantee that rocket fire will come to a total halt."
Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai of Shas has even called on the government to cancel the upcoming Mideast peace conference sponsored by the US in response to the recent attacks.
Yishai also said that today's attack was a direct result of the disengagement from Gaza in 2005, which "was born in sin and fortified Hamas."
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