Israel should begin negotiations with Syria, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Sunday evening in an interview to Channel 10.
IDF action against the continued Kassam rocket fire will be decisive, Defense Minister Amir Peretz told Channel 10 Sunday evening.
Turning to the continued Kassam rocket threat, Peretz said, "We need to act. We need to target the people who are causing the escalation. What we received today was more freedom to act."
"The moment we decide on harsh action, it will be a decisive action," he said.
Peretz also said that after the Labor party primaries were over, he intended to leave the Defense Ministry, and that he was rethinking his position in the government.
The defense minister's remarks came hours after the security cabinet concluded on Sunday a meeting on the Kassam rocket threat emanating from the Gaza Strip and Hamas's growing military strength there without deciding on any course of action.
During the meeting, government ministers were divided on whether the IDF should begin a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip as a response to the ongoing Kassam attacks.
The majority of the ministers said during a government meeting on Sunday morning that they were against such an incursion, adding that following the release of the Winograd Committee's interim report into the Second Lebanon War, Israel should be very careful in its choices of action.
Gov't to weigh wide-scale Gaza incursion
Trade and Industry Minister Eli Yishai supported a Gaza operation, but said that "there [was] no need for a deep incursion, but rather a precise, pin-point operation. [The IDF] needs to shut down [terrorist cells] by implementing targeted killings, destroying infrastructure and military headquarters. The entry [into Gaza] must be gradual and coordinated, and only after it is certain that the army has prepared [adequately] and what its abilities are."
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz also thought pinpoint air strikes against rocket squads and limited ground operations would be more effective.
"I think that at this moment, a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip won't bring solutions," said Mofaz.
Immigrant Absorption Minister Ze'ev Boim said that Israel should change its restraint policy. "I think that we must consider strengthening our operations in Gaza, but I don't recommend taking over the entire strip - as I've heard other people suggest an operation similar to Operation Defenseive Shield in Jenin."
Such an operation, Boim said, would be like a fly trap. The minister said that an understanding between Egypt and the US regarding the Philadelphia Corridor must be reached.
Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra insisted that Israel choose an alternative solution to an operation. "Gaza is very crowded. It is impossible to reach any point without harming civilians," said Ezra.
"If Israel demands an operation in Gaza, we must find an alternative. Gaza has 1,000 organizations, even if we neutralize two or three of them, many more remain. Therefore, we must examine the dangers thoroughly."
Meanwhile, two Kassam rockets landed in the western Negev earlier Sunday morning, and another landed in an open area near Sderot. No one was wounded in either incident, and no damage was reported.
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