U.S secretary of State Condoleezza decided to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, after she altered her scheduled visit in response to the escalating violence in the area.
Rice plans to shorten her visit to Africa in order directly supervise efforts to facilitate the Israeli disengagement plan and ensure its implementation, the Israeli online daily Haaretz reported.
Also, Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, told the Israeli TV channel 2 that Israel would strike the resistance, including Islamic Jihad fighters, which claimed responsibility for the Tel Aviv suicide bombing which left five Israelis killed.
“We can’t withdraw under fire, we will talk all steps against the resistance, and the Islamic Jihad with no limitations, our retaliation will be strong and harshâ€Â, Sharon said.
Sharon added that there is no chance for any peaceful solution as long as the resistance continues its attacks.
Meanwhile, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is conducting efforts to salvage the truce and gain control in Gaza’; Abbas ordered the security forces to conduct maximum efforts to control the situation.
On Friday, seven Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in two military air strikes against members of al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
The strikes were carried out in Gaza, and the West Bank city of Tubas.
