He's not joking about this. With Iran looming in the background, there's some housecleaning to be done:

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday that Israel was moving closer to carrying out a large-scale military operation in Gaza in order to put a stop to cross-border rocket and mortar barrages into Israel. It was his first public hint of plans to combat the fire coming from the Hamas-ruled coastal strip, which Israel last week declared "hostile territory" as a prelude to possible punitive cuts of utilities. Barak told Army Radio that a large-scale military operation would not be a simple undertaking. "We are moving closer to a broad and complex operation in Gaza," Barak said.

(1) After Iranian nonconventional weapons and the 600 conventional rockets that Iran supposedly has aimed at Israel, the biggest threat to Israeli cities comes from crude munitions that Iran has supplied to Hezbollah, Syria, and Hamas. Iran has promised to activate all of these in the event of an American or Israeli first strike against their nuclear capabilities. Israel has already made some moves against Syria - and demonstrated the capability to make more - and now Hamas appears to be next.

(2) A major successful ground operation in Gaza represents a convergence of "let's make peace and give away land right now" dynamics: it would simultaneously provide a huge boost to Olmert and Barak while taking Hamas temporarily out of the picture. When Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, the entire world insisted that now there was finally an opportunity to make peace. When Hamas is uprooted from the Gaza Strip, the entire world will insist that now there is finally an opportunity for peace. Anyone else get the feeling that something other than level-headed analysis is driving the push to get Israel to give away land?

References:
* Barak: Either The Palestinians Or The IDF Will Stop The Palestinian Bombing Of Israeli Schools And Hospitals (Plus: Is Olmert Actually Trying To Lose The Next Election) [MR]
* Barak says large-scale Gaza operation is fast approaching [JPost]

Previously:
* Spectacular IDF Actions Aimed At Restoring Israel's Deterrent
* Capture Of Shalit Kidnapper "Like A Scene Out Of A Hollywood Action Movie"
* Israeli Political Roundup - Look Who's Supporting Sharon Now