Special report: Israel launches Gaza
assault
; JERUSALEM, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) --
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday said that there is no easy
solution to the ongoing Qassam rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, local
newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
"There is not one easy solution for the war against
Qassams. The fact is that even after Operation Defense Shield, terror from Judea
and Samaria continued," Olmert was quoted as saying. Olmert, who had met with
senior American officials during his five-day visit to the United States, made
the remarks on his way back to Israel from the U.S.
Olmert said he "take this (Qassam) fire seriously,
but each of our actions in Gaza will last according to information, preparation
and the ability to curtail this fire as much as possible."
Meanwhile, the prime minister promised that he will
continue to promote diplomatic activities, making it clear that he would expect
Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to manifest a "firmer and
more decisive stance."
As for a possible meeting with Abbas, Olmert said
that he and his "Palestinian colleague" were holding continuous talks.
"My people talk to his people all the time. As far as
I am concerned, there is nothing delaying the meeting between us." "Our hope is
to reach a meeting with Abu Mazen (Abbas) in the near future. We want to hold
discussions with him in order to reach the objectives which both we and the
international community and the Palestinians want to reach," said Olmert.
Qassam rockets fired from Gaza continue to strike
Israel's western Negev on Thursday morning, a day after a woman was killed and
two other people were seriously wounded by rocket attacks on the town of Sderot.
In response to the deadly Qassam attack, Prime
Minister Olmert said in Los Angeles on Wednesday that he had consulted with
Defense Minister Amir Peretz.
"The operation in Gaza will continue without a break
... and we will decide on additional steps to fight this murderous terror," he
vowed.
