Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the Israel Defense Forces has been ordered to prepare for a possible large scale operation in Gaza Strip to stop the Qassam fire against Israel, local media reported.
"The IDF is preparing for a large-scale operation in Gaza, its possible alternatives and consequences. We will not deter from any course of action needed to give the residents of Sderot and the Gaza vicinity Communities their peace," Barak was quoted by the website of local daily Ha'aretz as saying at the Knesset ( parliament) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
"IDF operations are continuing day and night and will even be expanded," he added.
The defense minister told members of Knesset that during its extensive operations in the Strip, the IDF has killed some 200 terrorists in the last four months.
"The IDF and the Shin Bet are ready and are preparing for future actions. They are our finest," Barak declared.
During a meeting on security developments Sunday, and at the weekly cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israel needs to continue its preparations for a large-scale military operation in Gaza Strip, but there is no point in rushing into one.
Israeli Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi recently gave orders for such preparations, but army sources insist that they have not received any order to initiate an operation. Military sources said that such operation is not likely to begin for several more weeks.
Source: GNA
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