No one is immune:Olmert

JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday promised to step up attacks on the Hamas militant group after a Palestinian rocket killed an Israeli man in southern Israel.

“No one is immune,” Olmert declared. Olmert’s comments, coupled with the latest bloodshed, signalled there was no end in sight for the latest round of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.A 10-day campaign of Israeli airstrikes aimed at halting rocket attacks has killed nearly 50 Palestinians, most of them militants.But the rocket fire has continued.Hamas officials said yesterday their attacks would continue as long as the Israeli airstrikes persist.Another rocket slammed into the southern Israeli town of Sderot early yesterday, killing a 36-year-old man, medical officials said.It was the second fatal rocket attack in less than a week.Olmert told the weekly meeting of his Cabinet yesterday that he had instructed the army to do whatever it takes to halt the rocket fire.”There will be no limit in acting against the terror groups and against those who are responsible for the terror.No one is immune,” Olmert said in an opening statement to media.He said there would be no time limit for the army, and that outside pressure would not stop Israel from acting.At the same time, Olmert acknowledged there is no quick solution for the crude “Qassam” rockets, which have baffled Israel’s high-tech army for years, and told his ministers to be prepared for a long-term conflict.”We don’t want to create unrealistic expectations that it’s possible to stop the Qassams totally,” Olmert said.During the closed meeting, Olmert appeared to rule out a cease-fire – saying his decisions “would not depend on internal Palestinian agreements,” a meeting participant said.Nampa-APOlmert’s comments, coupled with the latest bloodshed, signalled there was no end in sight for the latest round of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.A 10-day campaign of Israeli airstrikes aimed at halting rocket attacks has killed nearly 50 Palestinians, most of them militants.But the rocket fire has continued.Hamas officials said yesterday their attacks would continue as long as the Israeli airstrikes persist.Another rocket slammed into the southern Israeli town of Sderot early yesterday, killing a 36-year-old man, medical officials said.It was the second fatal rocket attack in less than a week.Olmert told the weekly meeting of his Cabinet yesterday that he had instructed the army to do whatever it takes to halt the rocket fire.”There will be no limit in acting against the terror groups and against those who are responsible for the terror.No one is immune,” Olmert said in an opening statement to media.He said there would be no time limit for the army, and that outside pressure would not stop Israel from acting.At the same time, Olmert acknowledged there is no quick solution for the crude “Qassam” rockets, which have baffled Israel’s high-tech army for years, and told his ministers to be prepared for a long-term conflict.”We don’t want to create unrealistic expectations that it’s possible to stop the Qassams totally,” Olmert said.During the closed meeting, Olmert appeared to rule out a cease-fire – saying his decisions “would not depend on internal Palestinian agreements,” a meeting participant said.Nampa-AP