Also commenting on the escalation, Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said that Hamas is trying to avoid an escalation in the Gaza Strip. "Hamas is doing all in its power to avoid a Cast Lead 2, and is trying to rein in its extremist elements."Speaking in Beersheba, Vilnai added that the situation in the South will become clearer in the near future. "We will know in which direction this escalation is headed by the evening," he said. "At this point it is up to the other side."Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) said that Qaisi should have been assassinated a long time ago. "Yesterday Israel's long arm reached him, and that is a good thing," he said."Anyone involved in terrorism should expect a similar fate. It is Israel's responsibility to protect its southern citizens. We must not allow ourselves to grow complacent with a situation in which a million citizens are held hostage in shelters."Ayalon: No terrorist is immuneDeputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon (Israel Beiteinu) said that no terrorist is immune to Israeli strikes in Gaza. "All terrorist leaders in the Gaza Strip, including those of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Resistance Committees, are potential targets," he said.Ayalon added that "Israel's southern residents will not stay at the mercy of Hamas - the government of Israel will not accept this situation. Terrorist infrastructure will be destroyed and terrorist leaders will be hit."MK Danny Danon (Likud) said that "we should view a rocket that falls in Sderot the same as a rocket that falls on the Kirya in Tel Aviv, and we should respond in kind."Danon commended the strike on Qaisi, saying that it should be an "example to any and all who take part in terrorist activities in the Gaza Strip- Israel will get you too."Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich called on citizens to "continue acting according to instructions issued by the IDF Southern Command."He added that "even though the Iron Dome is doing good and important work, it does not have a 100% success rate. Citizens should continue to take shelter in protected areas."
PM: Israel to equip itself with more Iron Dome systems
Clinton condemns rockets fired at Israel; IDF aircraft launch operations in Gaza killing a PRC member, hitting terror centers; Barak says Sinai attack still possible; 14 Palestinians killed in retaliatory strikes.
Also commenting on the escalation, Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said that Hamas is trying to avoid an escalation in the Gaza Strip. "Hamas is doing all in its power to avoid a Cast Lead 2, and is trying to rein in its extremist elements."Speaking in Beersheba, Vilnai added that the situation in the South will become clearer in the near future. "We will know in which direction this escalation is headed by the evening," he said. "At this point it is up to the other side."Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) said that Qaisi should have been assassinated a long time ago. "Yesterday Israel's long arm reached him, and that is a good thing," he said."Anyone involved in terrorism should expect a similar fate. It is Israel's responsibility to protect its southern citizens. We must not allow ourselves to grow complacent with a situation in which a million citizens are held hostage in shelters."Ayalon: No terrorist is immuneDeputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon (Israel Beiteinu) said that no terrorist is immune to Israeli strikes in Gaza. "All terrorist leaders in the Gaza Strip, including those of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Resistance Committees, are potential targets," he said.Ayalon added that "Israel's southern residents will not stay at the mercy of Hamas - the government of Israel will not accept this situation. Terrorist infrastructure will be destroyed and terrorist leaders will be hit."MK Danny Danon (Likud) said that "we should view a rocket that falls in Sderot the same as a rocket that falls on the Kirya in Tel Aviv, and we should respond in kind."Danon commended the strike on Qaisi, saying that it should be an "example to any and all who take part in terrorist activities in the Gaza Strip- Israel will get you too."Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich called on citizens to "continue acting according to instructions issued by the IDF Southern Command."He added that "even though the Iron Dome is doing good and important work, it does not have a 100% success rate. Citizens should continue to take shelter in protected areas."