Israel's interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed today to use an "iron fist" against Palestinian militants as polls showed his party's lead slipping less than a month before a general election.
A spike in violence has increased pressure on Mr Olmert to show he is as ready to take tough military action as was Ariel Sharon, who remains comatose after a stroke two months ago that propelled Mr Olmert to the forefront of the election campaign.
"We will use an iron fist against any attempt to renew terrorist action," Mr Olmert told a news conference.
"We will use drastic measures on all the roads, in all sensitive areas."
Militants have stepped up attacks in recent days, saying they are responding to Israeli raids.
Stressing his security expertise, Mr Olmert said he had personally ordered air strikes against Palestinian militants involved in firing rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Khalil Abu Laila, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, said Mr Olmert's tough talk was nothing new. "We consider this matter in sync with Zionist terrorism and escalations against our Palestinian people," Abu Laila said.
Mr Olmert also played down the importance of a visit Hamas leaders will make to Moscow tomorrow, the first talks between the militant group and a major power.
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had personally assured him Russia would demand Hamas renounce violence, abandon its charter calling for Israel's destruction and embrace existing peace agreements. Despite efforts by Israel and the United States to isolate Hamas, South Africa said it would also meet the militant group.