[Ma'anImages]

Israeli leaders are considering a large-scale operation in Gaza to stop the fire of homemade rockets from the tiny coastal territory. Israel broke a truce agreement with Gaza’s Hamas government on 4 November, invading Gaza and provoking renewed rocket fire.

Sources with knowledge of the meeting told reporters that Abdullah said that an escalation in Gaza could destabilize the region.

Israeli political sources said that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak made no guarantees that Israel would refrain from a major invasion, saying “Israel cannot restrain itself for long.”

Jordan has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 1994, but there have been reports that the Jordanian regime is frustrated with Israel’s apparent unwillingness to make peace with the Palestinians.

Since 4 November the truce agreement has been further eroded by a strict Israeli blockade of Gaza.