Israel threatens 'big Gaza push'

Israeli Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi

Zionist army has threatened a big offensive against the Gaza Strip where Israeli incursions have drawn Palestinian rocket attacks.

Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi, speaking at a Tel Aviv security conference, said almost daily raids on Gaza had reduced the ground threat and the firing of rockets but noted a need to carry out 'the big operation' in the future.

The remarks come apparently regardless of Israeli assessments of considerable military death toll and warnings by the Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas that peace talks would be at risk.

Ashkenazi said Zionist forces have undergone various trainings after suffering setbacks in the 2006 summer attack on Lebanon.

But an unnamed Israeli source said the security cabinet later on Wednesday ruled out any such military operation in Gaza.

"The cabinet ruled out a widescale operation for the moment, but decided to continue the current pattern of localized ground incursions and air strikes," he said.PRESS TV