(JTA) — A top Israeli official called the Gaza operation "a huge success" so far.
Speaking to Jewish leaders on a conference call sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Israel’s minister of internal security, Avi Dichter, said almost all of those killed and injured in the first six days of attacks were terrorists. "We can see Hamas, no doubt about it, is under stress," he said.
Dichter also said two main objectives must be reached in one way or another by the Gaza operation: the complete cessation of terrorist attacks and a dramatic change in the smuggling of weapons from Egypt into the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli minister argued that many Palestinian citizens in Gaza are faulting Hamas for the curent situation.
Dichter is a resident of Ashkelon, which has been under Palestinian rocket fire in this latest escalation of the conflict. Dichter said Israelis "are together and feel the whole Jewish world is being with us."
