Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, stated on Wednesday that the Israeli army should carry a large-scaled military offensive in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for what she described as “the violation of the truce”.
The statements of Livni came during a meeting in Tel Aviv University on Tuesday morning. She also slammed the Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, as she said that Barak was calling for a truce while Hamas was firing homemade shells.
She claimed that this issue gives the impression that Israel recognizes Hamas.
Livni also said that Israel should not accept the Authority of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and should intensify its military operations in the coastal region.
She stated that when Israel accepted the truce, it wanted to create a temporary period of calm, and added that an extended truce or long term calm “harms the Israel strategic goal, empowers Hamas, and gives the impression that Israel recognizes the movement”.
On the ground, Israel already violated the truce, carried offensives, killed, wounded and kidnapped Palestinians, and kept the border crossings sealed in spite that the truce states that Israel should open the border terminals.
Yet, Livni said that Israel must make it clear to Hamas that it is responsible for the deterioration of the situation
She also stated that a large-scaled military offensive it’s a possibility in order to weaken Hamas.
On Sunday, Livni had an argument with Barak during a government session as Barak said that some officials are demanded an end to the truce for political considerations.
He also said a military offensive against Gaza should be postponed and that “the right decisions regarding the offensive should be taken in the right time”.
Meanwhile, Livni said that Barak knows her position regarding the truce and that, according to her, there is no truce and Israel must retaliate.
