GOI WARNS ROCKETS ATTACKS FROM GAZA UNACCEPTABLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001039

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS PTER MARR MASS IS
SUBJECT: GOI WARNS ROCKETS ATTACKS FROM GAZA UNACCEPTABLE
AND WILL BE STOPPED

Classified By: Luis G. Moreno, Deputy Chief of Mission.
Reasons: 1.4 (b, d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) In the wake of a mid-afternoon rocket strike May 14 on
a shopping mall in Ashkelon, Israel that injured 14 persons,
Israeli Prime Minister Olmert told the audience and TV
viewers of a convention welcoming visiting President Bush
that such continued attacks could not be tolerated and that
the Israeli Government would be taking action to stop them.
Early May 15, an Israeli Air Force (IAF) rocket strike on a
Qassam launch site in the Gaza Strip reportedly killed two
Hamas terrorists and injured two others. Defense Minister
Barak, visiting the shopping mall in Ashkelon within hours of
the IAF strike, told those present, "We will not allow this
situation to continue. We will do everything needed to make
sure it doesn't." The rocket attack -- press reports vary as
to whether it was a Qassam or a longer-range "Grad" -- raises
the stakes in that it injured a considerable number of people
in Askhelon, a city of 120,000 north of the Gaza Strip, and
occurred during President Bush's visit. Israelis arguing
that terrorist capabilities in the Gaza Strip need to be
dramatically reduced will invariably point to it as ample
justification for a large-scale ground incursion in the near
future. END SUMMARY.

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ROCKET ATTACK ON ASHKELON MALL RAISES THE STAKES
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2. (SBU) Shortly before 1800 local time, May 14, a rocket
launched from the Gaza Strip slammed into a shopping mall in
Ashkelon, injuring 14 civilians. Initial news reports cited
Islamic Jihad as claiming responsibility, and noted that
three of the victims were in serious condition. Subsequent
news reports identified the rocket as a "Grad",
Katyusha-style rocket launched by the Salah al-Din Brigades,
the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, a
Palestinian terrorist group operating in the Gaza Strip.
(COMMENT: Regardless of which group launched the attack, the
GOI will assert that Hamas is ultimately responsible as it
controls the Gaza Strip. END COMMENT.)


3. (SBU) The attack occurred shortly before President Peres,
Prime Minister Olmert, and President Bush spoke at a packed
convention center in Jerusalem as part of the ceremonies
marking the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding. Before
giving his prepared remarks, Olmert told his listeners --
most of whom appeared already aware of the attack -- that
continued such attacks were completely unacceptable, and that
the Government was doing everything it could and would take
the necessary action to stop the attacks.


4. (SBU) Press reports the morning of May 15 reported that
earlier in the morning, the IAF carried out a rocket strike
against a Qassam launch site in the Gaza Strip. Hamas
claimed that two of its "fighters" were killed in the strike,
and that two others were wounded.


5. (SBU) A few hours later, Defense Minister Barak visited
the shopping mall, and told listeners present, "We will not
allow this situation to continue. We will do everything
needed to make sure that it doesn't." Barak then toured the
site with Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and IDF Home
Front Command Chief MGEN Yair Golan. The Vice Mayor and
Deputy Mayor of Ashkelon indicated to the press after meeting
with DefMin Barak that Ashkelon can hold out "for a little
longer" under such attacks, but not much longer, and could
not afford an exodus of residents that would be likely if
rockets continue to hit the city.

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COMMENT: PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT TO ACT IS MOUNTING
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6. (SBU) The May 14 rocket strike in Ashkelon ups the ante in
terms of the casualties and because it happened in a shopping
mall in Ashkelon, a city of 120,000 and the location of one
of Israel's power stations supplying electricity to a third
of the country. The attack is being portrayed as a bold
challenge by the Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip,
coming as it does on the heels of an offer for a truce made
by the Egyptians on behalf of Hamas, and also during
President Bush's visit. Defense Minister Barak has said on
numerous occasions over the last year that it is only a

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matter of time before Israel will have to re-enter the Gaza
Strip in a large-scale ground incursion in order to destroy
the terrorists' growing capabilities there. The May 14
rocket strike -- occurring within five days of a mortar
attack that killed a father of three in Kfar Aza, and a
Qassam rocket strike that killed a 70-year old woman visiting
relatives in the village of Yesha -- is being pointed to by
proponents of aggressive action in Gaza as the last straw and
ample justification for taking decisive action in the Gaza
Strip. While President Bush is in Israel, Israel's
leadership will focus on him and work to ensure that the
visit ends well. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister and IDF
leadership are acutely aware that while Jerusalem is
celebrating the U.S. President's visit, there are many in
southern Israel who are suffering and who feel there is no
end in sight while rockets continue to fall on them.

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