Olmert: The Sooner We Can End Gaza Op. The Better

‘Israeli' Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told ‘Israeli' daily Haaretz on Tuesday that ‘Israel' has no interest in a prolonged offensive on the Gaza Strip.

"The sooner, the better," he claimed when asked when the army planned to end its operation. "We did not set out to occupy Gaza or kill every terrorist. We set out to bring change to the south," he said.

The prime minister told Haaretz that he was in contact with numerous world leaders working toward a diplomatic solution for the offensive launched by the Zionist entity against the Gaza Strip. "There are different ideas for a diplomatic solution," he said. "I am currently in discussions regarding them with many leaders around the world," he added.

The ‘Israeli' prime minister also said that ‘Israel' did not oppose the United Nations' efforts to find a solution to the crisis, but stressed that "we need an active solution, and that's what we are working toward."

On a visit to the Osem factory in Sderot, Olmert emphasized that ‘Israel' did not want to reoccupy Gaza. "Hamas has received an unprecedented blow to its strength."

"There is no state that would absorb [so many rockets] and continue to bite its lip and restrain itself," he claimed. "All those chiding us around the world today would have responded with even more strength and cruelty were they in our place," he even went on to claim, seeking to justify killing more than 630 people, including women and children.

Earlier Tuesday,Olmert rejected the European Union's request for a 48-hour "humanitarian" cease-fire with Hamas. He told the group of visiting European foreign ministers that ‘Israel' was "tired of gestures," as the ‘Israel' Occupation Forces continued its ground offensive deep into the Gaza Strip. "We honored the cease-fire despite being fired at on a daily basis," Olmert said. "Now is the time for action. We are ready for a cease-fire only in exchange for actions, not empty words."