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Defense Minister Ehud Barak visiting IAF base on Tuesday (Tomer Appelbaum)
Last update - 00:00 17/04/2008
Barak: Gaza plight a concern, but suffering in Sderot more important
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Barak, Gaza, Palestinians 

Defense Minister and Labor Chairman Ehud Barak on Wednesday told party members at a rally that the plight of Gazans is a concern, but secondary to the security of Israeli civilians nearby who are suffering as a result of attacks launched by Palestinian militants.

"We see and are aware of the Gazans' suffering. The situation there is tough, but the suffering of [Israeli] civilians in Gaza-area communities in Sderot and Ashkelon and of Israel Defense Forces soldiers who are protecting that area is more important to us," Barak said.

Barak, who has recently been criticized by the left for intentionally taking a hard line in order to ingratiate himself with center-right voters, said Israel is taking actions to assuage Palestinians' suffering.
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"Part of this war is not to act out on a whim or on a gut feeling, but using judgment. We do everything thoroughly so that these incidents will not repeat themselves and we tried to reduce everyone's suffering," he said.

"We've gone through difficult times before, like suicide bombings in the streets of Israel and Katyusha rocket firings in the Galilee, and we have withstood these tests," he said. "We will also find a solution for the Qassam rocket firings. There is no instant solution, it won't be over tomorrow but we will find solutions, just as we have in the past," Barak said.

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      2.   Barak and colonisation 02:57  |  Truth 17/04/08
      3.   For once a well put statement by Barak 02:58  |  Genuine Tosefta 17/04/08
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      11.   Agreed! 100% The time has come to clean out Gaza 10:12  |  Yossi 17/04/08
      12.   I have much to say but my postings always upset people, why? 10:18  |  POP 17/04/08
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      15.   "TRUTH." BARAK said nothing of the kind 12:42  |  PETER SM 17/04/08
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