JERUSALEM, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned on Tuesday evening that Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli citizens would have far-reaching consequences, local newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

    Olmert's warning came in response to a Qassam rocket attack on southern Israeli city of Ashkelon earlier on Tuesday evening, which is believed to be the farthest one ever reached into Israeli territories.

    "This serious act and this criminal attempt to hurt Israel's citizens will have far-reaching consequences," Olmert was quoted as saying.

    "This is a serious step-up in the terror war which the Hamas-led government is responsible for," the prime minister said, adding that "the Hamas organization will of course be the first to get hurt."

    Israel's political-security cabinet is expected to convene Wednesday morning to discuss the response to Tuesday's rocket attack, according to senior Israeli officials.

    They revealed that a very tough response was expected. A Qassam rocket fired from the Palestinian side landed at the center of Ashkelon for the first time Tuesday evening, hitting a local high school building. It caused some damages but no injury. Enditem