Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    JERUSALEM, June 10 (Xinhua) -- A majority of Israeli ministers on Tuesday voiced their support for launching a military operation in the Gaza Strip, while some others expressed their readiness to accept a serious truce with Palestinian militant groups.

    "Israel must launch a large-scale operation in Gaza against Hamas and the rest of the terror organizations," Housing and Construction Minister Zeev Boim was quoted by local daily Yedioth Ahronoth as saying at the weekly cabinet meeting.

    He added that "a truce would only serve Hamas' interests" and Israel cannot risk letting the militant group rearm itself "beforethe next round."

    "We must act; The question is in what way," Industry, Trade, and Labor Minister Eli Yishai told the cabinet, stressing that theJewish state cannot accept a "virtual" calm that does not include the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.

    "But if there will be a serious ceasefire, then there's room totalk," he added.

    Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit also made clear his opposition to a ceasefire which Hamas would exploit to strengthen itself, while telling other ministers that he would accept a truce that ensures the return of Shalit.

    The lone voice of restraint, another daily The Jerusalem Post reported, came from Science, Culture and Sports Minister Ghaleb Majadle, who said that "We must exhaust all negotiation opportunities" following the absence of quietness for five years.

    Meanwhile, the report added, quoting defense officials, that ata meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and top military brasses later Tuesday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak would push for a "medium-level military operation" in Gaza before Israel agrees to an Egyptian-brokered truce with Hamas.

    Israeli security cabinet is scheduled to discuss the situation in the Hamas-ruled strip on Wednesday when a decision is likely to be made on whether to reach a truce or launch an operation in the Gaza Strip.

    Israeli officials have recently repeated that a decision is imminent on how to respond to the continuous rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip to southern Israel.