Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 26, 2007

Israel Considers Military Action in Gaza after Palestinian
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Infiltration
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=18FD21C:A6F02AD83191E16077C3A5DF5C2EDF749574F7DCC14957C0 Israeli troops
killed at least seven Palestinians in fighting around Gaza and the
West Bank on Friday and Saturday Israel is considering a military
response in the Gaza Strip after an infiltration by Palestinian
militants. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau,
Israel sees Gaza as a growing threat since the Islamic militant group
Hamas seized control of the territory from the more moderate Fatah
faction two months ago. 







A Palestinian man holds his weapon next to the body of Islamic Jihad
militant Ala Abu Srour, 30, killed by Israeli forces, during his
funeral in Jenin, Saturday 25 Aug. 2007Israeli Cabinet ministers
demanded tough military action Sunday after two Palestinian gunmen
scaled the heavily fortified Gaza border wall on Saturday and
infiltrated Israel.  The gunmen, who were on their way to attack an
Israeli community, were intercepted and killed by Israeli troops.

On Sunday, six unarmed Palestinian youths scaled the wall in the same
area and were arrested by Israeli troops. 

In the wake of the infiltrations, and daily Palestinian rocket attacks
on border communities, Israel is running out of patience. Avi Dichter
is the government's public security minister. 

Dichter told Israel Radio that the country must restore deterrence in
Gaza. He said there are military measures that Israel has not taken
yet that could convince the Islamic militant group Hamas to halt
rocket attacks and infiltrations.

Dichter said Israel should create a buffer zone or no-man's land along
the Gaza border, where any Palestinian entering the area would be
considered a terrorist and shot. He said some Palestinian
neighborhoods in Gaza which militants use to launch rockets at Israel
should be evacuated.

So far the measures have not been approved by Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert, who fears they could torpedo peace efforts with the
internationally-backed Palestinian government in the West Bank.

But many Israeli officials believe that with Hamas in power in Gaza, a
major military offensive is just a matter of time.




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