Cabinet tells IDF to devise plan to completely cease rocket fire
Ministers in political-security cabinet tell IDF to design program for putting total end to ongoing rocket fire on Israel's south; Vice Premier Ramon calls for unilateral ceasefire
The national security cabinet instructed the IDF to present it with a plan for putting a complete end to rocket fire emanating from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday afternoon. In the past, IDF incursions into the Palestinian enclave aimed to reduce rocket attacks without totally halting them.
The cabinet ministers instructed the IDF to act against known Qassam rocket launching areas as well as the centers for their manufacture and storage. The officials also approved plans to damage Hamas institutions in Gaza but said that the prime, defense and foreign ministers would have to personally authorize such attacks.
The ministers also agreed to limit Hamas' growth in power through coordination with Egypt and continuing negotiations with the Palestinian Authority while maintaining freedom of operation for counterterrorism measures. The ministers also decided to take steps to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
During the cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, three more rockets were fired into Israel landing in open fields south of Ashkelon. No one was injured and no damage was caused. The Color Red warning system was not heard in the beachside city.
The cabinet's decision was largely initiated by Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, who said that the rocket fire must be completely ceased instead of merely reduced.
Vice Premier Haim Ramon claimed that the cabinet's decision was not sufficient. Ramon abstained from the vote and called for a unilateral ceasefire saying that IDF attacks on Gaza should only be renewed if the rocket attacks were to continue. He added that the IDF should attack the sites from which the rockets are launched even if it meant hitting populated areas.
Dichter, whose neighbors' home in Ashkelon was completely destroyed by a Grad missile attack, told Ynet: "I don't accept the terminology of 'limiting, reducing and minimizing' (the rocket attacks). We're in trouble if the army doesn't know how to attain this goal."
Kadima member David Tal, chairman of the Knesset's House Committee, slammed the government for what he said was its discrimination against residents of Sderot.
"There cannot be a situation whereby the State is willing to accept rocket fire on Sderot and only take action when Ashkelon is attacked," he said.
