Jerusalem, Oct 30: Israeli security forces have
killed 300 Hamas operatives in the past three months and would
expand operations in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert said today.
He told a key parliamentary committee that the Army
would decide in the coming days what type of operation to
carry out, said lawmaker Limor Livnat, who participated in the
committee's meeting.
Olmert gave no other details on the possible Gaza
operations to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, 'The
Jerusalem Post' quoted Livnat as saying.
The premier also said he would consider allowing
Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas to beef up
his loyalist forces with troops stationed in neighbouring
Jordan.
Palestinian officials had said last week that Abbas
wanted to bring in the forces ahead of a possible showdown
with Hamas.
Israel has objected in the past to letting members of
the Jordan-based Badr brigade enter Palestinian areas.
But Olmert told the committee that he would consider
allowing such a move, said committee member Ran Cohen.
"If the addition of a military force will not hurt our
security, then this will be considered favourably," Olmert was
quoted as saying.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, October 30, 2006, 00:00