Dichter: 'No doubt' there will be more IDF ops in Gaza

By JPOST.COM STAFF
In light of the continuing rocket fire on the South since the end of Operation Cast Lead, Public Security Minster Avi Dichter said Sunday he had "no doubt" that there would be other such operations in the future. Speaking to Israel Radio, Dichter said that the operation had achieved its main objective of hitting Hamas hard, citing "700 Hamas gunmen killed and some one thousand wounded," but he conceded that it hadn't totally deterred the group from launching more rockets and smuggling weapons. Concerning Gilad Schalit, Dichter said Israel was making the utmost effort to secure the captive's release, and dismissed claims that recent internal Israeli developments had hindered chances of a deal. Concerning the Hamas reconciliation talks with Fatah, the public security minister said they were an attempt by the Islamic group to take over the whole of the Palestinian territories. "Hamas aims to rule the entire Palestinian Authority," he said. "It tried to do this militarily and failed, so it's now trying legally, just like Hizbullah did in Lebanon."