By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed on Sunday that Israel will bring an end to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Olmert said Hamas is responsible for all Qassam rocket and mortar shell fire emanated from Gaza.
“We view Hamas as completely responsible for everything that happens in the Gaza Strip,” Olmert was quoted by local daily Jerusalem Post as saying, adding that Israel does not accept the current situation.
“It won’t end in one day or one week, but I do promise one thing: Either there will be quiet or Israel will act with such force that will force quiet,” Olmert said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz criticized the government’s response to the rocket attacks.
If Hamas don’t stop terror activities, Mofaz told reporters before the cabinet meeting, “we need to return to the policy of 2004, when Hamas and terror were targeted. We need to act against these components continually with all our might in order to bring quiet to southerners.”
Fighting between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas gunmen escalated on the weekend, after an Israeli civilian was killed and three others wounded on Friday by a mortar shell fired from Gaza on Kibbutz Kfar Aza in western Negev.
Hamas radio said on Friday evening that the group is responsible for the mortar attack.