Ehud Barak calls for Gaza ground invasion

JERUSALEM, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The Israeli military is preparing for a large-scale operation in Gaza in response to repeated rocket attacks on the city of Sderot, the defense minister said.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told the Knesset Monday that the Israeli military is preparing several responses to rocket attacks, including "the ensuing ramifications" of such operations, The Jerusalem Post said.

Barak praised the Israeli military saying it was "active and ready."

Sderot residents marched Sunday on Jerusalem calling for a viable response to the rocket attacks following several injuries.

Also, Israeli military officials said last week a large-scale ground invasion of Gaza would pave the way for the intervention of an international peacekeeping force modeled after the U.N. observer mission in Lebanon.