Israel will not rule out any military action until there is an end to rocket fire, one of the masterminds behind Israel’s Operation Protective Edge told a conference call organized by The Israel Project on July 8.

“(Hamas is) attacking civilians as usual and we are determined to defend ourselves,” said Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, the director of policy and political-military affairs at Israel’s Defense Ministry. “It means now all our options are on the table.”

Gilad stressed that only “legal” methods will be adopted in trying to stop the hundreds of rockets from hitting Israel as they have done so far this week.

Israeli politicians believe there are additional avenues for attacking Hamas, as Justice Minister Tzipi Livni pointed out during a speech in Tel Aviv on July 8.

“I do think that the Hamas organization, an organization that is not just a terror organization, but represents the conflict in its religious definition – we also have to act against it internationally and prevent it from getting legitimacy.”

However, Livni, known for her dovish stance in the Netanhayu government, also recognizes the need to operate against Hamas until the rockets stop.

“When Hamas in fact leaves us no choice after the government of Israel said ‘quiet will be answered with quiet’ and acted accordingly, we do indeed have to act against them with force.”

In order to make the point clear, the government began discussing the call up of 40,000 reserves.

[Photo: Maryland GovPics/Flickr]