JERUSALEM, May 7 (UPI) -- Israel should try to prevent a war with the Palestinians before rushing into one, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Monday.
"Before issuing an order to launch an operation or a war, we should say we did everything to prevent it," Peretz said, YNetNews reported.
In a speech honoring companies that employ reserve soldiers, Peretz warned Israel will defend its citizens. His remarks followed a weekend of rockets fired from the West Bank hitting the southern Israeli city of Sderot and western Negev. The al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, claimed responsibility for rocket and mortar attacks Monday.
"This morning we woke up to the sound of a Qassam barrage fired at the area where I live. I am familiar with every house and every family. We are doing everything in order to maintain the truce and prevent escalation, but I am saying this clearly: The terror organizations must not delude themselves," Peretz said, YNetNews reported.
Peretz spoke of the need of "diplomatic courage" in the face of such attacks.
