PM: IDF won't hold back from wide-scale Gaza op if it's necessary

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told AIPAC on Tuesday night that the IDF would not hold back from a wide-scale onslaught in Gaza if Israel reaches the conclusion that it is the best way to restore quiet to southerners. He stressed that just because such an operation hasn't yet been carried out does not mean Israel was not acting, emphasizing that the war on terror was a daily one. The prime minister said that Israel's security forces were required to constantly assess all their options and choose the correct and most effective methods. Olmert reiterated that Israel would not negotiate with Hamas as long as the group refuses to accept the demands of the international community. He declared that a clear distinction must be made between the group and the Palestinian Authority and expressed hope that talks with the PA would lead to an agreement, proving there is an alternative to violence.