Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave an interview to the Arab television network Al-Arabiya Thursday and appealed Israel cannot tolerate attacks on its children and civilians. directly to the Arabs in Gaza to stop Hamas from attacking Israel. Olmert warned that if the attacks do not cease, Israel will respond. In the beginning of the interview Olmert explained that Israel left Gaza three years ago without the intention to return. He went on to say that Israel cannot tolerate attacks on its children and civilians. The Prime Minister explained that Israel has much might and can use it to stop Hamas. Olmert also claimed that Hamas’ actions are against the spirit of Islam: “Is it the spirit of Islam to kill innocent children? To shoot missiles at nurseries and civilians? I do not think that this is the spirit of Islam. Hamas, which does this against the spirit of Islam is the main reason for your suffering and for all of our suffering.” Addressing the residents of the Palestinian Authority, Olmert warned, “I am saying for the last time, stop this. You, the residents of Gaza, can stop this.” He added, “Hamas is the enemy of the people, not just in Israel but in Gaza as well. We do not want to fight the Palestinian people, but we will not allow Hamas to attack our children.” Olmert ended the interview with a call for peace. “I did not come here to go to war. I have said in the past - as long as I am Prime Minister my intention is to make peace, not to fight with Palestinians. But Hamas must be stopped, and it will be. I will not hesitate to use the might of Israel to attack Hamas and Jihad. How? I will not say here.” Almost 100 rockets and mortar shells have rained down on Israel from Gaza since early Wednesday morning. The security cabinet convened Wednesday, but no military actions have yet been taken by Israel. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met Thursday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and reiterated that Israel cannot tolerate the rocket attacks any longer.
