Following are Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's remarks at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting today:

"Last week was marked by among the most serious terrorist attacks India has ever known, in Mumbai and which were the product of extremist Islam – brutal and unrestrained, which tries to sow death and destruction wherever it can.  I was briefed throughout recent days by security and intelligence officials who were closely following events and who were in close touch with the Indian Government.  The picture became more and more chilling.  Throughout recent days, there was proper and correct cooperation between us and the relevant Indian authorities.  Naturally, we were especially interested in hearing what was going on at the Jewish institutions that were under attack by these extremist organizations.  There is no doubt that these attacks were designed – inter alia – to intentionally harm such Jewish institutions.  In the framework of our contacts with the Indian authorities, we made it clear that we would be happy to provide any and all information or specific assistance that we might be asked to give.  At no stage were the issues of whether or not Israel should join the operation, or do things that were within the power of the Indian Government and its strong and trained military to do alone, on the agenda.  I am very pleased at the cooperation and would like to take this opportunity to thank the Indian Government for seeing fit to update us throughout the events.  Last night, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called me and conveyed his condolences over the harsh blow to both Jews and Jewish institutions, and I thanked him very much for his goodwill.  We, the Government of Israel, naturally wish the Indians a quick recovery from the trauma connected to these events.  On behalf of the Government of Israel, I would like to convey our condolences to the families of the victims, including those Jews and Israelis.  The Government of Israel is doing, and will continue to do, everywhere, what needs to be done to protect Jewish institutions insofar as the matter depends on us and is possible, in the very special circumstances related to events of this kind.  The pictures of the Jewish victims, especially the scenes of those who ran the Chabad House, wrapped in prayer shawls, even as their blood-covered son was miraculously saved from the inferno, are shocking and take us back to events that we pray never recur.  But the hatred of Jews, the State of Israel and Jewish symbols are still a factor that spurs and encourages such murderous acts.  As I said, we will act in cooperation with the Government of India in order to protect – as much as possible – the many Israelis and Jews in these areas and who want, and are entitled, to enjoy complete security in their daily lives.

I would like to comment on the economic issue.  In recent days, the Finance Ministry has prepared a series of important and deserving measures to properly deal with the financial crisis that threatens the global economy and which is also liable to strike the Israeli economy.  These are in addition to the economic steps that the Finance Ministry has prepared in cooperation with the Bank of Israel, the National Economic Council and the Prime Minister's Office.  An effort has been made in recent days to reach an understanding regarding the steps that will provide a response for the ordinary citizen, those who put their savings into pension and provident funds, lest they be hurt.  There are discussions to this effect between the Finance Ministry, the Bank of Israel and the National Economic Council.  I believe that we must reach as broad an agreement as possible so that these matters will be outside political argument.  We are in a delicate elections period.  There is a natural tendency by various elements to use such potential crises for political purposes.  I appealed to the Opposition and I received the cooperation of Leader of the Opposition MK Benjamin Netanyahu and, I believe, from Meretz Chairman Haim Oron.  I also received cooperation of coalition elements – from Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai and the head of the Pensioners faction, so that it would be possible to reach agreement on responsible, measured and careful steps in order to assure pension fund savings.  I know that a Knesset Finance Committee discussion will be necessary.  I hope that additional discussions will be held today between Finance Ministry, Bank of Israel and Prime Minister's Office representatives in order to formulate a proposal that will also be acceptable to other public elements.  I met last Friday with Histadrut Chairman Ofer Eini, Manufacturers Association President Shraga Brosh and the Director of the Coordinating Bureau of Economic Organizations in order to reach such an agreement.  I think that such an agreement is important.  Let nobody seek to make political capital here.  I will not allow this issue to become part of elections-eve political tension.  We must look out for the public, for the hundreds of thousands of savers and we must see to it that they will not be hurt.  This issue requires maximum responsibility, free of sloganeering and power struggles, neither political nor personal.  In this spirit, I hope that we will complete the work quickly and I thank all those involved for showing the requisite responsibility, cooperation and goodwill.  Thank you very much."