Israeli PM: Gaza Offensive Will Continue

By Ramit Plushnick-Masti

Associated Press Writer

November 5, 2006

CBNNews.com -- JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged Sunday to press ahead with Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip until the army significantly decreases Palestinian rocket fire on Israel.

In new fighting, Israeli troops killed two Palestinians, including a Hamas gunman, raising the death toll to 46 Palestinians in the 5-day-old operation in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. One Israeli soldier has been killed.

"This operation has one goal: to decrease the Qassam fire at southern Israeli towns and to halt the terror attacks that are trying to get organized and get out to Israel," Olmert said at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, a far right politician who recently joined Olmert's government called for near-total separation of Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land, saying there was no hope for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Avigdor Lieberman said Israel should follow the example of Cyprus, which has been divided into Greek and Turkish sections since 1974.

"Anywhere in the world where there are two peoples and two religions. there is conflict," Lieberman told Army Radio. "What we have seen in Cyprus is that since they have that model, there is no terror. There is security. There is no peace but there is security."

Olmert, who brought Lieberman into his government last week to shore up a shaky coalition, quickly distanced himself from Lieberman's remarks.

"The opinions he expressed are not the government's position and Lieberman knows that I am for complete equal rights for the Arab citizens of Israel," Olmert said in the Cabinet meeting.

Lieberman's hawkish views have raised concerns that he will use his powerful post as minister for "strategic threats" to block attempts to pursue peace.

Despite the Gaza crackdown, Palestinian militants fired a rocket into the southern Israeli town of Sderot, the army said. No one was injured.

Israel said its attacks are focused on rocket launchers. Most of the dead have been militants, but several civilians have been killed, including a 4-year-old girl, a 72-year-old man, and two paramedics. Also killed were two women who tried to help militants besieged by Israel troops at a mosque.

In the Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI said he was very worried about the situation in Gaza and called on all sides to work to stop the bloodshed.

"I am following with grave worry the news about the grave deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip," Benedict said, addressing the faithful from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Benedict urged the faithful to join him in prayer so that God would "illuminate the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, as well as those of nations which have a special responsibility in the region, so that they work to end the bloodshed."

Beit Hanoun residents said living conditions have rapidly deteriorated since Israel closed off the town Wednesday.

"We have electricity, but no drinking water," said s 28-year-old woman, who declined to be identified because of the military presence in town.

She said there were shortages of staples like milk and diapers, and residents have been forced to share food. She also said she could see tanks from her home, and that her husband had been taken away by Israeli troops for questioning.

"I don't know what's happened to him," she said.

Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Israel was doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties.

"We have to get directly to the people who do the shooting and that is what we are trying to do," he told reporters.

On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appealed for U.N. intervention to stop the Israeli operation.

Israel withdrew all troops and Jewish settlements from Gaza last year. But it sent forces back into the area after Palestinian militants tunneled into Israel and abducted an Israeli soldier in June.

Also Sunday, progress was reported in talks on forming a Palestinian government that would be acceptable to the West and bring an end to crippling international sanctions.

The proposed plan calls for a government of technocrats who have political ties to either the Islamic militant Hamas group or to Abbas' Fatah movement.

Hamas would be allowed to appoint eight government ministers, and Fatah four. Smaller factions would get one seat each, meaning Hamas would retain control over the Cabinet.

The political program would be intentionally vague. It would not say if the new government would meet Western demands for ending the sanctions: recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence, and acceptance of existing peace deals.

"We are talking about the final details of forming a national unity government," said independent legislator Mustafa Barghouti, who has been shuttling between Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.

Barghouti said he was optimistic the new government would win international recognition.

Negotiations have broken down repeatedly in the past, and one of the remaining issues was the candidate for prime minister, to be chosen by Hamas.

Abbas has urged Hamas to choose an independent to make the government more acceptable to the international community, officials close to the president said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations.

Aid from Western donors - long the backbone of the Palestinian economy - has all but dried up since Hamas took power in March, following a January election victory.

As a result, the government has largely been unable to pay 165,000 civil servants.

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