Some government ministers spoke briefly to the media on Sunday, calling on the IDF to take action to bring an end to the increasing rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza into southern Israel.

Shas’ Eli Yishai stated there are many qualitative targets that remain in Israel’s option list, and the time has come to strike some of them to send a clear message to Hamas and to halt rocket attacks. His words were echoed by a number of other ministers, including Meir Sheetrit and Ze’ev Boim.

Boim stated he opposes a truce with Hamas, stating that just as in the past; the terror organization will use the opportunity to regroup and rearm itself.

The three biggies however, PM Olmert, FM Livni and DM Barak feel that Hamas latest signal, the delivery of a letter from Gilad Shalit, is indeed a positive sign and they feel compelled to give Egyptian mediators another chance at hammering out a ceasefire agreement.

The Political Security Cabinet is convening again on Wednesday to discuss the deteriorating situation in southern Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)