Israel Cabinet: No One Involved In Terrorism Is Immune

Jerusalem ----May 28...... The following was communicated by the Israel Cabinet Secretariat and the Israel Government Press Office to the Israel News Agency.

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today in Jerusalem Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed the continued firing of Kassam rockets at southern Israel, including the Israel Negev city of Sderot. Olmert said that the Israel Defense Forces has been instructed to continue counter-terrorist operations and emphasized that no one involved in terrorism is immune.

Prime Minister Olmert said that recent events have taken a heavy emotional, mental and practical toll on the residents of southern Israel, including the city of Sderot. Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command is maintaining an unprecedented deployment throughout the region, as are the Israel Police and the relevant Israel Government ministries, in order to respond to all problems that arise. He said that it must be clear to all Israelis in general, and to residents of the south in particular, that the Government will do its utmost in both the civil and military spheres, and that there will be no restrictions on action against terrorist elements and those responsible for terrorism.

Israel Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Israel Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and ISA Director Yuval Diskin briefed ministers on current diplomatic and security affairs regarding both Sderot and communities near the Gaza Strip and the region as a whole.

Defense Ministry Director-General Pinchas Buchris briefed ministers on various issues regarding assistance and structural protection for the residents of Sderot and communities near the Gaza Strip.

Israel Defense Minister Peretz noted that 191 Kassam rockets and dozens of mortar rounds have been fired at Israeli territory since the escalation began. He said that the weekend was marked by a continuing decline in the number of rockets fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip. The Defense Minister commended the efforts of both the IDF and the Defense Ministry in providing support for residents of Sderot and the communities near the Gaza Strip, including hosting them at defense establishment facilities.

Foreign Minister Livni noted that the international community is monitoring the escalation in the Gaza Strip with increasing concern.

The Israel Cabinet approved a NIS 260,589 budget for the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority for 2007.

The Cabinet discussed the continued development of the Israel sea ports of Haifa and Ashdod.

In the framework of the plans to aid Sderot and the communities near the Gaza Strip in 2007, the Cabinet decided to update the geographic demarcation of “greater Sderot”. In a 2004 decision, the Cabinet defined “greater Sderot” to include the Municipality of Sderot and those areas bordering on the city that - inter alia - serve it.

In March 2007, the Israel Land Administration decided to extend the validity of favorable land price terms for ‘greater Sderot” until 31.12.07. The ILA determined that when and if the Cabinet decides that the employment zone (as per Plan #28/303/02/7) is within "greater Sderot”, the favorable terms would be extended to it as well.

Ahmadinejad is a terrorist, and nobody touches him.

Hezbollah hasn't been touched in a year, because EU countries flak'd for them.

Putin murders people abroad in broad daylight, nobody so much as says anything about it.

No, sorry, no terrorist immune just doesn't hold up. The truth of the matter is, civilized men are too whipped and cowardly to stand up to terrorists, and grant great masses of them impunity for no reason whatever.

He said that it must be clear to all Israelis in general, and to residents of the south in particular, that the Government will do its utmost in both the civil and military spheres, and that there will be no restrictions on action against terrorist elements and those responsible for terrorism.

I call BS. Olmert has no credibility whatsoever, and it is clear that he's only doing this as a way of postponing the inevitable - his being forced from office. Maybe he thinks that if Israel is engaged in a conflict in Gaza, no one will pay attention to his corruption scandals (like getting a house in Jerusalem for a great bargain from a big developer...coincidentally when he was in a position to help the developer immensely). He'll be looking for a way to disengage ASAP from Gaza, and the missiles will soon rain down on Sderot and other towns and cities far more often than before this farce.

Foreign Minister Livni noted that the international community is monitoring the escalation in the Gaza Strip with increasing concern.

Ah, yes, Livni has already found Olmert's excuse. It'll just be a few days before this faint-hearted series of strikes stops.

What SHOULD Israel do? At the very least, it should mercilessly pound Hamas leadership and command and control sites, as well as every known arms depot - SIMULTANEOUSLY. Israel has a large air force, and against zero opposition can do this, and especially in conjunction with artillery strikes. Don't give Hamas a chance to breathe - hit hard, mercilessly and until the bastards cry for peace.

Alternatively, Israel should retake the Gaza strip, or at least the areas from which Olmert & company forcibly removed residents 2 years ago. Admit the mistake, take back the land and resettle the surrendered areas. Oh, and level every Hamas leadership and command and control site, as well as every known arms depot, while recapturing territory. Then hold a press conference and tell the world that Israel gave the Paleoswinians a chance, they blew it, and Israel won't ever make that mistake again or give back one square inch of land.

If Olmert had any balls, if he had the least bit of patriotism and feeling for his fellow Jews and Israelis, he'd at least cripple Hamas, damn world opinion or the civilian casualties. But of course, Olmert has none of these, so this is probably an empty hope.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.