Region | Palestinian Territories

Palestine risks 'bigger holocaust' by attacking Israel

Deputy Israeli Defence Minister Matan Vilnai said Palestinians would bring on themselves a "bigger holocaust" by stepping up rocket attacks on Israel.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 13:23 February 29, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 32 Palestinians, including five children, in the past two days.
  • Image Credit: Reuters

Occupied Jerusalem: Deputy Israeli Defence Minister Matan Vilnai said on Friday Palestinians would bring on themselves what he called a "bigger holocaust" by stepping up rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Vilnai told Army Radio, "The more Qassam (rocket) fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, they (the Palestinians) will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we will use all our might to defend ourselves."

Israeli air strikes on the coastal territory, controlled by Hamas, have killed at least 32 Palestinians, including five children, in the past two days.

"Holocaust" is a term rarely used in Israel outside discussions of the Nazi genocide during the Second World War.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak was seemingly preparing the way for an offensive by sending confidential messages to world leaders, including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who plans to visit the region next week.

According to reports, he told the leaders, "Israel is not keen on and rushing for an offensive, but Hamas is leaving us no choice."

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