Israel's Olmert: 'There is a war in Gaza'

JERUSALEM, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said it's becoming better known that there is a war going on in the Gaza Strip with Palestinian militants.

Olmert made the remarks Tuesday night to fellow Kadima Party members at his home in Jerusalem in reference to near-daily rocket attacks from Palestinian areas on the western Negev region, Ynetnews.com reported.

"It seems that in the past few days more and more people have finally come to the realization that there is a war in Gaza," he said. "All those responsible for the firing (of rockets and mortar shells) on our communities -- we will reach them. The actions will speak for themselves and the heads of the terror groups will feel them."

Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called on the international community to put a stop to Israel's ground and air attacks in the Gaza Strip, calling them "crimes against our people," the report said.