The Likud Party's official Web site was hacked into twice Monday morning by Palestinian activists seeking to display political messages. The messages appeared primarily in English, although some were in Hebrew and Arabic. The main banner on the hacked page displayed an English message, "Only free men can negotiate," above a line that read, "Palestine. Dying to live," accompanied by the image of a Palestinian flag.

According to a Likud spokesperson, the first hacking took place at 5 a.m., and then again at 11:30 a.m. after the site had been restored to normal. The group responsible for the breach called themselves "Cold z3ro - Team Hell Crew."

In a separate Hebrew message, the hackers posted they referred to a prisoner exchange for captured Cpl. Gilad Schalit, stating, "You think that Gilad Schalit is returning? When he returns, we will capture four like Gilad Schalit."

Another message, also in Hebrew, stated "You are killing Palestinian children in Gaza."

Sani Sanivich, government affairs adviser to Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu, insisted that there would be no response.

"I don't understand why we should respond to an illegal action by a fanatical group that tries to break into our Web site."

As far as whether or not Likud will respond to the messages displayed on the site, Sanivich said that no one would dignify the words by giving them time.

"I didn't even think about it. We didn't read it." He added that Netanyahu had not and would not read the messages, either.

Likud representatives were unsure if charges would be pressed in response, but Sanivich said, "We don't care for these people. It's a lost fight," admitting that they cannot control similar events happening in the future.

The hackers seemed to know this, as they posted another Hebrew message on the site warning, "We will breach all of your Web sites."

Copyright 1995- 2008 The Jerusalem Post - http://www.jpost.com/