An Israeli soldier directs a Merkava tank in a staging area on the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Nov. 16, 2012. Israel has called up thousands of soldiers and moved hundreds of military vehicles to the border to escalate the operation of "Pillar of Defense".(Xinhua/Jini)

An Israeli soldier jumps from a Merkava tank in a staging area on the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Nov. 16, 2012. Israel has called up thousands of soldiers and moved hundreds of military vehicles to the border to escalate the operation of "Pillar of Defense". (Xinhua/Jini)

An Israeli Merkava tank is seen in a staging area on the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Nov. 16, 2012. Israel has called up thousands of soldiers and moved hundreds of military vehicles to the border to escalate the operation of "Pillar of Defense". (Xinhua/Jini)

An Israeli soldier directs a Merkava tank a staging area on the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Nov. 16, 2012. Israel has called up thousands of soldiers and moved hundreds of military vehicles to the border to escalate the operation of "Pillar of Defense".(Xinhua/Jini)