ISRAEL - GAZA STRIP
Olmert vows to pursue Gaza crackdown
Thursday 28 February 2008
Israeli PM Ehud Olmert was determined Thursday to pursue Israel's crackdown on the Gaza Strip. At least 11 Palestinians, including a six-month-old baby, were killed in Israeli attacks Wednesday.
Thursday 28 February 2008
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed Thursday to pursue Israel's crackdown on the Gaza Strip, saying he told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the "terrorists" would pay a "heavy price."
"I explained to the secretary of state that we won't end our battle," Olmert told reporters after talks with Rice in Tokyo. "We will make the terrorists pay a very heavy price."
The Islamic militant group Hamas claimed responsibility Wednesday for the first killing of an Israeli by rocket fire from the Gaza Strip since the movement seized control of the territory in June.
Israeli action Wednesday in the Gaza Strip meanwhile killed 11 Palestinians, including a six-month-old baby, officials said.
"What happened could transpire again in the near future," Olmert said of rocket attacks reaching into the south of the Jewish state.
"We are at the height of this battle and we will pursue it until the danger threatening residents in the south ends," he said.
"We don't have a magic formula to resolve this problem in a day or two. It's a painful process. We are taking painful blows and we will hit back with even more painful blows," Olmert said.
Rice, meeting with Olmert before she heads to the Middle East next week, called for an end to Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel but also voiced concern about the condition of Palestinian civilians.
Olmert was addressing reporters as he toured a factory on the outskirts of Tokyo on the final day of a four-day visit aimed at boosting trade with the world's second-largest economy.
28/02/2008 08:47:25 Alert a moderator
Lack of context in Israel story
By Fabia C. Fiortina
Your headline and story quote Israeli Prime Minister Olmert threatening revenge upon the Palestinians of the Gaza strip. It makes no mention of the reason for such threatening language. You also report an Israeli attack, making certain to mention the death of a six-month old. What you fail to mention is that on Wednesday (the same day) 50 rockets fell on the Israeli city of Sderot - including several on Sapir College, killing a married student, father of 4 and wounding others. You also failed to mention that 3 Grad missiles exploded near the helicopter landing pad of Barzilai Hospital in the nearby city of Ashkelon. These missile barrages are a daily occurrence, but are rarely, if ever, mentioned in the foreign media. Two weeks ago, an eight year old boy was hit by a kassam rocket while walking in the street with his mother and brother. One of his legs was severed by the missile and doctors are fighting to save the other. Two days ago, a ten year-old boy was injured by shrapnel from a kassam - almost losing his arm. Why do these not rate a headline - or even a mention? Is there an agenda at work here?