JERUSALEM, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Israel's deputy defence minister, Matan Vilnai, said on Friday that the Palestinians were bringing a "holocaust" upon themselves by stepping up cross-border rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

"The more Qassam fire intensifies, and the rockets reach a longer range, they (the Palestinians) will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we will use all our might to defend ourselves," Vilnai told Army Radio.

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