TEL AVIV, February 1, 2009 (WAFA)- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, Sunday, at the start of the weekly Israeli cabinet meeting that he had instructed Israeli Army Minister Ehud Barak to order the army to prepare a new strike on the Strip.

Citing rocket attacks by Palestinian militants, Olmert stated that Israel will “act at the time and place of its choosing.”

Before the cabinet meeting, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni called for a strong hit on the Strip, under the same pretext. 'We must not try to reach a settlement with Hamas, we need to act against the group with might,' she said.

Citing the same pretext, Barak said that “Hamas was dealt a severe blow and it will be dealt one again, but the decision needs to be made by the experts.”