No let-up in violence and terrorism from Gaza, yet Israel's defense establishment is preparing for a possible withdrawal of its forces from the northern areas of the Gaza Strip. The Negev city of Sderot is up in arms.
Only several days ago it was reported that the PA had told Israel it was not yet ready to assume security control over northern Gaza - yet now, following a meeting last night between Muhammad Dahlan and IDF Yesha Coordinator Gen. Amos Gilad, the PA says it's ready. "We heard good plans from Dahlan," an Israeli security source later reported, emphasizing that nothing had yet been concluded.
Greeting last night's discussions was a Kassam rocket at Sderot this morning and three mortar shells in Gush Katif; no one was hurt. The Kassam landed near the Sderot municipal cemetery, causing some damage. Arabs fired at an IDF force stationed in southern Gush Katif several times during the night, while near Rafiach, on the Israeli-Egyptian border, enemy gunmen launched an anti-tank missile and fire fragmentation grenades. No one was hurt in these incidents.
The Sderot Municipality will hold an emergency meeting this evening in light of the continuing Kassam rocket attacks on the city - and the apparent intention to transfer security control of northern Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. Mayor Eli Moyal told Army Radio today, "We do not trust anyone in the Palestinian Authority, and we won't agree to be abandoned."
The attacks continued in the afternoon, with two mortar shells towards Kfar Darom and three Kassams at Moshav Mivtachim and environs in the southern Negev. No one was hurt.
Israeli officials reportedly offered to stop targeted killings of terrorist leaders if the PA manages to control terrorism "to a reasonable extent" and stop rockets from being fired at Israel.
Only several days ago it was reported that the PA had told Israel it was not yet ready to assume security control over northern Gaza - yet now, following a meeting last night between Muhammad Dahlan and IDF Yesha Coordinator Gen. Amos Gilad, the PA says it's ready. "We heard good plans from Dahlan," an Israeli security source later reported, emphasizing that nothing had yet been concluded.
Greeting last night's discussions was a Kassam rocket at Sderot this morning and three mortar shells in Gush Katif; no one was hurt. The Kassam landed near the Sderot municipal cemetery, causing some damage. Arabs fired at an IDF force stationed in southern Gush Katif several times during the night, while near Rafiach, on the Israeli-Egyptian border, enemy gunmen launched an anti-tank missile and fire fragmentation grenades. No one was hurt in these incidents.
The Sderot Municipality will hold an emergency meeting this evening in light of the continuing Kassam rocket attacks on the city - and the apparent intention to transfer security control of northern Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. Mayor Eli Moyal told Army Radio today, "We do not trust anyone in the Palestinian Authority, and we won't agree to be abandoned."
The attacks continued in the afternoon, with two mortar shells towards Kfar Darom and three Kassams at Moshav Mivtachim and environs in the southern Negev. No one was hurt.
Israeli officials reportedly offered to stop targeted killings of terrorist leaders if the PA manages to control terrorism "to a reasonable extent" and stop rockets from being fired at Israel.