Israel's Defence Minister has re-asserted that any leader of the Palestinian group, Hamas, is a legitimate military target if it restarts its violent campaign.
Shaul Mofaz was speaking to Israeli Army Radio at the start of Israel's general election campaign.
He said that if Hamas were to resume attacks on Israel, no one from the group would be immune, including its Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniya.
Meanwhile, kicking off his Kadima party’s election campaign, the acting Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, said he would reduce Israel's spending on Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Mr Olmert, who has headed the ruling Kadima party since Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was incapacitated by a stroke in January, has hinted he would evacuate isolated West Bank settlements while cementing Israel's hold on major settlement blocs.
