There was a sharp exchange of words during Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak concerning the situation in Hamas-controlled Gaza as a result of the month-long ceasefire.

The prime minister stated, “In five years we will ask ourselves how we permitted this to come into being,” citing the violations of the ceasefire and the smuggling of weapons – adding the situation must be monitored and evaluated.

Barak stated that to date, the ceasefire has been positive, adding different ways of action that would lead to the “evaporation of Hamas” but no minister has signaled this is the correct path to take at present.

Barak added Hamas is doing more against the smaller terror groups than he believed would occur, and as a result, the ceasefire overall is being observed. He also pointed out Egypt has increased its vigilance to halt weapons smuggling, stating the ceasefire is an advantageous time.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)