Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 10, 2008

Olmert Resists Pressure to Invade Gaza after Rocket Attack
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B349A4:A6F02AD83191E160EA3DE47DB57B18970531BB26A5003E7B& An Israeli Cabinet
Minister says Gaza neighborhoods used to fire rockets should be 'wiped
off the map', but  Hamas spokesman says threats would not deter
Palestinians from resisting Israeli occupation Israel is backing away
from an invasion of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, despite outrage over a
Palestinian rocket attack.  As Robert Berger reports from VOA's
Jerusalem bureau, Palestinian militants have reacted defiantly to new
Israeli threats.







Medical workers wheel Israeli boy Osher Twito, injured Saturday during
a rocket attack on the town of Sderot, at the Barzilai hospital in the
city of Ashkelon Sunday, 10 Feb. 2008

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is resisting pressure for a major military
offensive in Gaza, after an eight-year-old Israeli boy lost his leg in
a Palestinian rocket attack.  The attack occurred in the hard hit
Israeli border town of Sderot, prompting angry residents to march to
Jerusalem.

They chanted slogans calling for Mr. Olmert to resign and demanded a
harsh military response to the rocket attacks.

The Prime Minister told the weekly Cabinet meeting that he understands
the anger.

But he said that "anger is not an operational plan."  He said Israel
would continue its current policy of limited military action in Gaza.

"We will continue to go after terrorists and those who send them," he
said.

Mr. Olmert fears that a major offensive in Gaza would harm U.S.-backed
peace talks with the moderate Palestinian government in the West Bank.







A Palestinian woman inspects the damage of her house following an
Israeli air strike in Gaza City Sunday 10 Feb. 2008

But Cabinet Minister Meir Sheetrit of Mr. Olmert's Kadima party said
restraint has not worked.

Sheetrit said Gaza neighborhoods used to fire rockets should be "wiped
off the map."

The Islamic militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, warned Israel
against an invasion.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Israeli threats would not deter
Hamas from resisting the occupation.  He said any Israeli offensive in
Gaza is doomed to failure.






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