Israeli Deputy Defense Minister says Israel will invade Gaza, fight Hamas

[MikeWB]

Israeli Deputy Defense Minister says Israel will invade Gaza, fight Hamas

http://www.uruknet.de/?s1=1&p=48795
www.imemc.org/article/57670

Israeli Deputy Defense Minister; "Gaza invasion, a matter of time"

Saed Bannoura - IMEMC

Saturday November 15, 2008

Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Matan Vilnai, stated on Friday that a large-scale invasion of Gaza is only a matter of time and added that the army was prepared to invade the Gaza Strip and fight Hamas.

Vilnai stated that the offensive would be large and Hamas fighters would suffer a major blow because the offensive "would be very effective".

He also said that he talked about a large-scale offensive but did not mention reoccupying the Gaza Strip.

Vilnai further said that the army would operate and leave because Israel "does not intend to appoint pro-Israel leaders in Gaza".

He also said that Hamas was expecting this offensive and was conducting the needed preparations and training to counter it.

"There is no doubt the truce is failing. Most of the homemade shells fired from Gaza were not fired by Hamas fighters", Vilnai stated, "But we must remember that there are other Palestinian factions that are interested in the failure of Hamas".

Commenting on the fragile Egyptian-mediated truce, Vilnai stated that the truce agreement ends in mid September.

"I don't know what would happen then, but every calm day is a new win for us", he said, "We also know that the truce will not last forever, unfortunately, we are now witnessing its collapse".

Meanwhile, the Al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for firing five homemade shells at Al Majdal city, and eight other shells at the Israeli Negev town of Sdeort.

Al Qassam stated that the shelling comes in retaliation to the Israeli military escalation against the Gaza Strip and the death of four of its fighters in Khan Younis.

The Brigades added that the Palestinians have the right to resist the occupation, and will defend themselves using all available means.