Reply #5: Olmert: Don't talk about truce [View All]

Top officials discuss Gaza op, PM calls for 'iron fist' against Hamas, bans ceasefire talk

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3646912,00.html

<snip>

"Speaking at a meeting with top officials, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert instructed participants to refrain from talking about the possibility of a Gaza ceasefire at this time, while focusing on continuing the offensive against terrorists in Gaza.

"We no longer talk about an exit policy, but rather, we are working in order to secure the Gaza operation's objectives," he said. "As long as the fire continues, the Israeli operation will be expanded."

The meeting was attended by Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and top security officials, including Army Chief Gabi Ashkenazi, Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin, and Mossad Director Meir Dagan.

Participants were told that Hamas asked Senegal, the current president of the Islamic Conference, to secure a ceasefire, in a move reflecting the group's difficult condition in the wake of the IDF assault. However, Israeli officials decided to reject the possibility of a ceasefire at this time.

"We need to continue handling Hamas with an iron fist – while handling the civilian population with kid gloves," Olmert said."