“Acts of terrorism in the Gaza Strip are continuing.  The firing of Kassam rockets at the south is continuing, as is gunfire.  Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and a large group of visitors from abroad were attacked last Friday.  His aide, Matti, was wounded.  We are used to seeing him here at the start of a Cabinet meeting; he is now in hospital.  We wish him a quick recovery and hope that he will quickly return to work.  But this incident is an example and expression of the continuing Hamas terrorism; only Hamas is responsible for it in the Gaza Strip.  One must understand that Hamas controls Gaza and from our point-of-view, it is also responsible for all acts of terrorism, all aggressive activity and all shooting that originates there.  It is altogether unimportant who claimed responsibility for this or that incident.  Hamas, and Hamas alone, is responsible for what happens in the Gaza Strip.  It bears the responsibility and it will answer for the results of these terrorist acts, which are designed to hurt Israelis, whether they intended to hit a specific target or are merely claiming this after the fact in order to pat themselves on the back.

We will be briefed on this week’s national home front drill, in the context of which the Security Cabinet will hold an exercise tomorrow.  I want to emphasize that this is only a drill, with nothing hiding behind it.  All reports about heightened tension in the north are exaggerated; we have no secret plans.  This drill is not part of anything else.  It seems to me that the Syrians know this as well; they have no reason to analyze this drill differently.  I would like to make it unequivocally clear that this is a routine drill.  The State of Israel is not intent on any violent confrontation in the north.  On the contrary, we have said more than once that we have an interest in holding peace negotiations with Syria.  They know exactly what our expectations are.  I can also say that we know what their expectations are; if these conditions will bear fruit, then this is what we are intent on and nothing else.

The last issue that I will raise today is the events being planned for Israel’s 60th anniversary.  While Israelis indeed have excellent reasons to be proud of the State of Israel and its achievements in many fields, the events being planned are not just for show.  They will highlight our achievements in the various fields, as well as the challenges that we face in the social and education spheres.”