(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
The Ministerial Committee on National Security Affairs, this morning (Wednesday, 11 June 2008), held a comprehensive discussion on Israeli policy in light of the continuing terrorist attacks from the Gaza Strip and the possibility of achieving calm in the Gaza Strip.
The Ministerial Committee decided to re-approve its 5 March 2008 decision regarding the State of Israel's goals vis-à-vis the Gaza Strip.
The Ministerial Committee authorized Defense Minister Ehud Barak to exhaust the dialogue with Egypt in order to achieve all of Israel's conditions for an actual calm as have been agreed to by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Barak, and as were presented in detail to the Cabinet by Prime Minister Olmert. Included in this framework is advancing the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who has been held by Hamas since 25 June 2006.
Similarly, the Ministerial Committee instructed the IDF to prepare for military action in the Gaza Strip, according to a rapid timetable, should the Cabinet convene and make a decision to this effect.
No further details will be issued.