Israeli cabinet resolves to continue offensive against Hamas, MDA on highest alert

On Day 5 of the Gaza operation, prime minister Ehud Olmert said: "Israel held back for years and finally decided to try a ceasefire. But it was violated by Hamas." As the scope of the Hamas cross-border attacks widened, his office said the French 48-hour truce idea was not on the table. There are others, Olmert said, but none are realistic enough to discuss. If conditions change and a solution that guarantees a better security situation in southern Israel comes up, we will reconsider. But we are not there yet.From Wednesday night, Magen David Adom goes on highest level of preparedness in all parts of Israel in view of the widening radius of Hamas missile attacks and forecastsfor the coming weekend. For the first time in its history, MDA has enlisted hundreds of volunteers to man more than 600 ambulances, some brought out of emergency stores.Two members of the security cabinet were interviewed by TV Channel 2:Dep. Defense minister Vilnai said it was much too early to discuss a timeline for ending the Gaza operation and estimated it would take weeks. He added that the whole country was in a state of preparedness. After the cabinet meeting, finance minister Ronnie Bar-On said Israel would not agree to a ceasefire until its Gaza offensive had achieved all its goals and "the balance of life in southern Israel was brought level with that of Jerusalem.
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