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Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday reiterated that the IDF was continuing its offensive in Gaza while simultaneously, the political echelons were closely monitoring diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas.In a meeting with IAF pilots and ground control teams at the Palmahim air force base, Barak said, "Yesterday, we heard, and we respect the calls of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, and, of course, we are also monitoring developments on the Egyptian initiative, but the fighting goes on and the IDF is continuing to apply force."Ban arrives in the region on Wednesday and is expected for talks in Israel on Thursday. He told reporters in New York on Monday that he planned to insist in diplomatic meetings with Israeli and Arab leaders this week that last week's Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza be "respected fully." During Tuesday's visit to Palmahim, Barak was briefed on operations in Gaza, visited a squadron of attack helicopters and spoke with pilots and technicians."The operation is continuing on its eighteenth day with the aim of restoring quiet for southerners and curbing weapons smuggling," he said. "We are working on both these goals, with an eye on diplomatic initiatives."Earlier Tuesday, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi expressed satisfaction with the army's action against Hamas."We have achieved exceptional results in damaging Hamas, its infrastructure and its military wing," Ashkenazi said during a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in his Tel Aviv office.Ashkenazi praised IDF troops, who, he said were "doing an extraordinary job," despite the fact that the operation was "very complicated."The chief of staff said that Operation Cast Lead had so far succeeded in greatly reducing the total number of rockets fired at Israeli communities.He reiterated that the army's aim was to bring about safety and security to southerners, and said that the armed forces were "acting in accordance with the plans of the army and the political echelon."Ashkenazi also denied allegations that the army was using white phosphorous against Palestinian gunmen in Gaza."The IDF acts only in accordance with what is permitted by international law and does not use white phosphorous," Ashkenazi told the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in response to a query by Meretz MK Zehava Gal-On.The chief of staff went on to say that Hamas was booby-trapping Gaza homes with entire families inside, in order to set off explosives should IDF troops take control of the houses.He said Israel was making every effort to avoid harming innocent people, but that Hamas was exploiting the weakness of its civilians.Meanwhile, Army Radio reported Tuesday that Barak, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni had decided against expanding the military campaign for the time being in order to give a chance to Egyptian-led diplomatic efforts to stop weapons smuggling. Jerusalem officials told the radio station that for the moment, the IDF had been ordered to increase the pressure on Hamas using pinpoint operations alone.Livni said Tuesday that "there are indications that Hamas in Gaza is showing signs of distress, but the leadership in Damascus is sending out a different message."Her comments came a day after Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh indicated that he was willing to consider a cease-fire initiative."There is a big gap between what we hear in closed sessions and what is being said in public," she emphasized. Livni, who met members of the American Jewish Congress, added that the Gaza operation also served the interests of the Palestinian people and moderate regimes in the region. Meanwhile, an IDF spokeswoman defended Operation Cast Lead in an interview with Sky News, emphasizing that despite diplomatic efforts to achieve a cease-fire, the military still had many more objectives to attain."Currently we don't see the end in sight," Maj. Avital Leibowitz said. "We have destroyed 70% of the tunnels" along the Philadelphi Corridor, but there are still more targets to hit."Herb Keinon contributed to the report.
By JPOST.COM STAFF
As in the days of Noah...
