Olmert describes Israel-Gaza violence as 'war'

TEL AVIV - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Thursday that Israel was waging a "war" against Palestinian militants firing rockets from the Gaza Strip and Israeli military action would force them to halt the attacks.

"A war is going on in the south, every day, every night," Olmert said in a speech.

"The most daring and boldest of our soldiers and members of the security services are taking part in it. This war will not stop. The moment will come when the scales will tip in this war and cause the firing in the south to be different from what it is today."