Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz delivers a speech in Tel Aviv, October 2006. Peretz said Sunday that the army is operating in a wider scope than in the past within Gaza Strip to stop Qassam rockets.(AFP/File photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    JERUSALEM, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Sunday that the army is operating in a wider scope than in the past within Gaza Strip to stop Qassam rockets.

    Peretz told the weekly cabinet meeting that he had approved every operation suggested by the Israel Defense Forces and had ordered the renewed development of an anti-rocket system that will hopefully be able to curb the Qassam rocket fire on the south of Israel from Gaza.

    He made the comments in response to several cabinet ministers who criticized him of restraining the IDF and hindering an expanded military operation in Gaza.

    "The ministers' harsh words create a false impression that we are not doing everything necessary. We are acting wisely and constantly examining the operations and actions, out of regard to what is necessary and what the results may be, not as a reaction to criticism and protests," he was quoted by Ha'aretz as saying.

    Peretz said that he had instructed the Chief of Staff Dan Halutz to expand military action in Gaza. "The IDF will act in initiatives rather than responses," Peretz said, "however, we will resist falling back into the mire of Gaza."

    Earlier Sunday afternoon, two Qassam rockets landed in an industrial area in western Negev, damaging some buildings. No one was wounded in the attack.

Israeli PM rejects UN resolution on Gaza

    JERUSALEM, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that the United Nations should condemn Palestinian militants instead of Israel over the errant killing of over 19 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the local Yedioth Aharonot newspaper reported.

    "Those who fire to harm civilians for a long period of time should be condemned," Olmert was quoted as saying in a cabinet meeting. Full Story

Israeli aircraft resume airstrikes on Gaza

    GAZA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli army aircraft resumed its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Friday night in the third consecutive day, hitting by rockets the homes of Palestinian militants, said local security sources and eyewitnesses.

    They said that several Israeli Apache attack helicopters hovered over Gaza City and fired several rockets at several targets in the city, but no injuries had been reported. Full Story

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