Israel may step up strikes in Gaza -Livni

JERUSALEM, May 16 (Reuters) Israel may step up military strikes in the Gaza Strip in response to a surge of Palestinian cross-border rocket salvoes, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said today.

''Until now, we have demonstrated restraint, but this situation is not a tolerable situation,'' Livni told reporters after holding security consultations with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz.

''We cannot agree to it ... We will take military measures,'' she said without elaborating.

Early today, Israel destroyed a Hamas position in Gaza which it said had been used to plan rocket attacks. At least four Palestinians died in the air strike, which came as Hamas battled rivals from the Palestinian faction Fatah.

REUTERS BDP VV2219