Israeli soldiers walk next to the Iron Dome anti-rocket system, in the coastal city of Asqalan, Monday 4 April 2011. (AP)
Israel’s Channel 2 reported Sunday a government official's claims that the new anti-missile system’s success in taking down Palestinian rockets targeting Israel allows decision makers in Tel Aviv to proceed with their military operation against Hamas.
The Israeli military source asserted that the state’s main concern was the possibility of the operation leaving “thousands of settlers” living in the vicinity under the mercy of Palestinian rockets.
The success of "Iron Dome" in taking down nine Gerad rockets fired towards Be’r Al Sabe and Asqalan, according to the source, gives the government a wide and flexible margin of military choices in order to deter Hamas.
He even speculated that Iron Dome’s success is what deterred Hamas from using their long-range missiles on Israeli targets.
In another context, the Yisrael Beiteinu party, led by Israeli Minister of Defence Avigdor Lieberman, declared that it will call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enforce the second article of the agreement between the party and the ruling Likud.
The article in question requires that the government work on overthrowing Hamas’ rule as a strategic objective.
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