Olmert: IDF closer to goals, will press ahead

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert on Sunday vowed that the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, would press on with its offensive against Hamas in Gaza. At the same time he asserted that Israel was close to achieving its goals. Olmert: IDF closer to goals, will press ahead "Israel is approaching the goals it set for itself, but another effort is needed, and determination, in order to change the security reality in the South and to bring security to the citizens," Olmert said. The prime minister's comments came after Israeli soldiers advanced into densely-populated Gaza City on Sunday, reportedly killing at least 10 Palestinian gunmen. The location of the fighting, on the southwest side of the Hamas-ruled territory's biggest population centre, suggested Israel was intensifying a more than two-week-old offensive. Troops had previously kept to the outskirts of urban areas in Gaza. Olmert added that, "We must not miss at the last moment what has been achieved in an unprecedented national effort. The Israeli public has willingness and patience for this, as does the government." Referring to a United Nations resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Olmert says that nobody but Israel can decide how best to protect its citizens. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting Sunday he said that Israel's military had already made great sacrifices in the Gaza fighting, in which 10 soldiers have so far died. On Friday, the security cabinet decided to continue Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, but not expand it at this stage. In the coming days Israel will focus its military and diplomatic efforts on pressuring Egypt to work toward the Israeli and international demand to deploy an international force to combat smuggling from Egypt to Gaza. Palestinian sources told Haaretz that Cairo demanded Saturday morning that the militant group respond to its cease-fire proposal within 48 hours. Egypt warned that if Hamas rejects its offer, Egypt would be unable to stop Israel from continuing its ground offensive. Senior officers in the Israel Defense Forces told Haaretz that for further achievements, the army will have to expand the operation by at least 20 days and include reserve units in the fighting. A senior officer in Gaza said Hamas' capabilities were gradually eroding and that the group had lost more than 300 militants from its armed wing since the ground operation began. Amos Gilad, the head of the Defense Ministry's political-security branch, will travel this week, most likely on Monday, for talks in Cairo with the head of the Egyptian security services. A Hamas delegation Saturday arrived in the Egyptian capital for similar talks. A bomb blasts above northern Gaza Strip (Tanjug/Xinhua)

Olmert: IDF closer to goals, will press ahead

"Israel is approaching the goals it set for itself, but another effort is needed, and determination, in order to change the security reality in the South and to bring security to the citizens," Olmert said.

The prime minister's comments came after Israeli soldiers advanced into densely-populated Gaza City on Sunday, reportedly killing at least 10 Palestinian gunmen.

The location of the fighting, on the southwest side of the Hamas-ruled territory's biggest population centre, suggested Israel was intensifying a more than two-week-old offensive. Troops had previously kept to the outskirts of urban areas in Gaza.

Olmert added that, "We must not miss at the last moment what has been achieved in an unprecedented national effort. The Israeli public has willingness and patience for this, as does the government."

Referring to a United Nations resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Olmert says that nobody but Israel can decide how best to protect its citizens.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting Sunday he said that Israel's military had already made great sacrifices in the Gaza fighting, in which 10 soldiers have so far died.

On Friday, the security cabinet decided to continue Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, but not expand it at this stage. In the coming days Israel will focus its military and diplomatic efforts on pressuring Egypt to work toward the Israeli and international demand to deploy an international force to combat smuggling from Egypt to Gaza.

Palestinian sources told Haaretz that Cairo demanded Saturday morning that the militant group respond to its cease-fire proposal within 48 hours. Egypt warned that if Hamas rejects its offer, Egypt would be unable to stop Israel from continuing its ground offensive.

Senior officers in the Israel Defense Forces told Haaretz that for further achievements, the army will have to expand the operation by at least 20 days and include reserve units in the fighting. A senior officer in Gaza said Hamas' capabilities were gradually eroding and that the group had lost more than 300 militants from its armed wing since the ground operation began.

Amos Gilad, the head of the Defense Ministry's political-security branch, will travel this week, most likely on Monday, for talks in Cairo with the head of the Egyptian security services. A Hamas delegation Saturday arrived in the Egyptian capital for similar talks.