TEL AVIV, Nov 1: Israel's influential security cabinet on Wednesday ruled out ordering any immediate large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip, a senior official said. “The meeting ended without a decision being taken on expanding operations underway, in keeping with the recommendations of Defence Minister Amir Peretz,”the official said.

The office of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, however, that an operation launched in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday would continue,.

“The cabinet authorised current security operations to continue with the aim of increasing pressure on Hamas and other terrorist operations in order to stop them from strengthening and to put an end to rocket fire on Israeli territory.—AFP