1.  How did Israeli Prime Minister Olmert respond to the United Nations' Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip?

2.  What did Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni say about Israel's actions in the conflict with Hamas?

3.  a) Define justified.
b) A third Israeli government official, Eli Yishai aid that Israel "must act with all our force to achieve our goals, to bring quiet to the South [of Israel]. Do you think that Mr. Olmert, Tzipi Livni and Mr. Yishai are justified in opposing the U.N.'s demand that they agree to a cease-fire? Explain your answer.

4.  How did spokesmen for Hamas respond to the U.N.'s resolution calling for a cease-fire?

5.  First, read the two paragraphs below, then answer the following question:  Critics blame Israel for the deaths of innocent Palestinian civilians and demand that Israel stop all military action against Hamas. Should Hamas bear any of the blame for the deaths of Palestinian civilians?  Explain your answer.

On December 19, 2008 when a six-month cease-fire between the Hamas-led government of Gaza and Israel ended, Hamas refused to extend the cease-fire on the grounds that Israel was continuing a blockade on Gaza. Hamas demanded that Israel open all of the Gaza border crossings. Israel refused on the grounds that Hamas was continuing its terrorist activities.  In response, Hamas began a major increase in rocket attacks into Israel, culminating with 80 rockets fired into Israel on Christmas Eve. These Hamas rockets were and continue to be aimed at Israeli civilians.  Israel then began its military action agains Hamas.  Israel's goal of the military action is to get Hamas to stop terrorizing, injuring or killing Israelis by firing rockets into Israel. They also want the weapons smuggling tunnels between Gaza and Egypt closed. At this point, Hamas wants the Israeli military to open all borders, and to leave Gaza.

According to an AP report posted at Yahoo news:
"Hamas has said it won't accept any agreement that does not include the full opening [of] Gaza's blockaded border crossings. Israel is unlikely to agree to that demand, as it would allow Hamas to strengthen its hold on the territory which it violently seized in June 2007.  With Israeli troops now in control of many of the open areas used by militants to launch rockets, gunman have continued shooting from inside populated neighborhoods.  The conflict has left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza increasingly desperate for food, water, fuel and medical assistance, and the situation was expected to worsen as humanitarian efforts fall victim to the fighting."