War Criminal Dichter: 'Stop Qassams at All Cost’

Al-Manar

"20/01/2008 Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter expressed a harsh reality to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday, warning that “without military deterrence in Gaza, Sderot could very well collapse.”

Dichter furthermore noted that conditions in Qassam-weary Sderot are grim indeed. The internal security minister made these statements at a Kadima ministers' meeting, which was held right before the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday.

During the actual cabinet meeting, Dichter spoke in an even more resolute fashion. He praised Israeli occupation operations in Gaza, but noted that they "were not quite enough to change the outlook for Sderot, which is beyond bleak.” Dichter added that “the government must instruct the Israeli army to eliminate the rocket fire from Gaza entirely. These attacks need not be minimized or managed, but stopped completely irrespective of the cost to the Palestinians.”

The internal security minister noted that 180 Qassam Rocket have been fired at Gaza vicinity communities since the start of 2008. Referencing his recent visit to Sdeort he stated that “the weekend was absolutely terrible on them. After a draining week like that I would expect the Israeli army chief of staff to address the government as well.”

Ashkelon-resident Dichter lashed out at Olmert and his fellow government ministers, noting that “the government is entirely obtuse to the goings-on in Sderot”.

Responding to Dichter’s scathing criticism, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak replied that Israel must uphold its current policy vis a vie Gaza. To this Dichter replied “I respectfully disagree with the defense minister. Israel’s policy in Gaza must not continue, as the military must reestablish deterrence in the Strip.”

Barak also referred to Dichter's statements as "panic-driven talk the likes of which I had never heard in the government before," and assured the cabinet ministers that "we are taking the right action in Gaza."

As the cabinet meeting opened, Olmert praised Israeli army and Shin-Bet operations in the Gaza Strip, and noted that such strikes will continue. “We must be sensitive to the very real repercussions that these attacks have for residents of Sderot and other Gaza vicinity communities”, said Olmert. “They live in constant fear and are threatened by persistent attacks that cause damage far beyond that which can be assessed in casualties alone.” "