Israel prepares for mighty retaliation

Israel's security cabinet was set to convene for the first time in six months to decide on a response for Sunday's twin suicide attacks by teenage Palestinian militants.

The bombings -- the first carried out by Palestinians from the Gaza Strip since the start of their Intifada and the first to hit a strategic target -- rattled Israel's security establishment.

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On Monday night, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz threatened to unleash unprecedented military might on the Gaza Strip.

A senior security source, quoted by the radio, said the proposed moves would be "exceptional in their scope, their intensity and their duration", and include activities "not seen in the Palestinian territories for a long time".

The Israeli daily Haaretz website said defence officials proposed an increase of both ground operations and targeted killings similar to those carried out last autumn in Gaza following a series of suicide attacks in Jerusalem.

Sunday's attacks were jointly claimed by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and Hamas' military wing, sparking fears that Israel army would make fresh attempts to kill the Islamist movement's main leaders, such as Abdelaziz Rantisi or Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

The Ashdod bombings prompted Sharon to rule out any negotiations with the current Palestinian leadership, whom he accused of not having "the necessary courage or capabilities to fight terrorism."

Following the bombings, Sharon had already indefinitely postponed a long-awaited summit with his Palestinian counterpart Ahmed Qorei.