Livni calls for response to Hamas rockets

TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni says her country must continue to weaken the Palestinian militant group Hamas despite the current cease-fire in Gaza.

Livni, speaking Tuesday at Tel Aviv University, said she was embarrassed to even describe the current Gaza situation as a "lull" or "truce" because Hamas is still lobbing rockets into Israel. Instead, she said Israel must weaken Hamas' rule in Gaza with immediate military, diplomatic and economic measures, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

Livni said Israel must respond to Hamas rocket attacks because failing to do so would weaken the country's image in the face of its enemies. Military sources told Haaretz they have been ordered to maintain a policy of restraint despite the recent escalation in the volume of rocket fire from Gaza.

"The cease-fire agreement may serve Israel's interests at a certain point in time and in the short term, but it must be remembered that such deals hurt Israel and bolster Hamas," Livni said. "Therefore, when we do reach an agreement on a lull we must not accept any violations. We live in a region in which image is significant, and when we project weakness, it undermines Israel's deterrence."