This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7799593.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Livni in Egypt for Mid-East talks Israel warns Hamas over rockets
(about 4 hours later)
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni are meeting to discuss growing violence between Israel and militants in Gaza. Israeli leaders have issued stern warnings to Palestinian militant group Hamas to stop rocket attacks on Israel.
Ms Livni travelled to the Egyptian capital Cairo at the personal invitation of the government. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would not hesitate to strike Hamas and another militant group, Islamic Jihad, in the Gaza Strip.
This is rare given that Mr Mubarak usually only meets Israeli officials in the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni warned Israel "cannot tolerate" Palestinian militants targeting Israeli citizens.
Top of the agenda is the end of the six-month ceasefire in Gaza, which the Egyptians had brokered. Some 50 rockets have been launched from Gaza in recent days, after the killing of three Hamas members by Israel.
In the past week there has been an upsurge in violence between the militants and the Israelis. A six-month ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas ended last week.
More than 50 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip, which Hamas says is in retaliation for the killing of three of its men by Israeli forces on Tuesday. 'Enough is enough'
It is believed Israel is now preparing for a more substantial military offensive against Hamas. Speaking after talks with the Egyptian leadership in Cairo on the failed ceasefire in Gaza, Ms Livni described the latest escalation as "unbearable".
And if that was to happen then some believe the Egyptians might well look the other way. Don't let Hamas, which is acting against the values of Islam, put you in danger. Stop them. Stop your enemies and ours. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
"Hamas needs to understand that our aspiration to live in peace doesn't mean that Israel is going to take this kind of situation any longer. Enough is enough," she said.
The BBC's Christian Fraser says some will see the visit as the first of several diplomatic steps Israel must take before launching military action.
Mr Olmert called on residents of Gaza to stop militants "firing on innocent civilians", in an interview with the Arab television station Al-Arabiya.
"I say to you in a last-minute call, stop it," Mr Olmert said, Israeli media reported.
"Don't let Hamas, which is acting against the values of Islam, put you in danger. Stop them. Stop your enemies and ours."
Mr Olmert added: "I will not hesitate to use Israel's might to strike Hamas and [Islamic] Jihad. How? I will not go into details now."
Egyptian anger
Ms Livni had earlier been holding talks with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Prime Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who brokered the ceasefire.
Mr Aboul Gheit urged restraint from both sides, and said Egypt would continue to act as a mediator but admitted that a new truce currently seemed unlikely.
Relations between Egypt and Gaza are strained, our correspondent says.
President Mubarak has told the militants he believes they are making a mistake in abandoning the ceasefire.
It is widely understood the Egyptians are furious with Hamas for boycotting peace talks with Fatah last month, which were due to be held in Cairo.
The question now, our correspondent says, is whether the Egyptians would back an Israeli military offensive against Hamas.
The London-based newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi has reported that Egypt would not object to a limited Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip, aimed at toppling Hamas.The London-based newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi has reported that Egypt would not object to a limited Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip, aimed at toppling Hamas.
It is widely understood the Egyptians are furious with Hamas for boycotting peace talks with Fatah last month, which were due to be held here in Cairo. Ms Livni travelled to the Egyptian capital at the personal invitation of the government.
This invitation to Cairo is being read as an Egyptian endorsement of Tzipi Livni, who is seeking to become prime minister in February's general election. This is rare given that Mr Mubarak usually only meets Israeli officials in the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
It is being read as an Egyptian endorsement of Tzipi Livni, who is seeking to become prime minister in February's general election.
It has been noted that President Mubarak has not yet invited for talks the Defence Minister and Labour Chairman Ehud Barak, who is also a prime ministerial hopeful.It has been noted that President Mubarak has not yet invited for talks the Defence Minister and Labour Chairman Ehud Barak, who is also a prime ministerial hopeful.