Israel’s security network believes that Hamas, the terrorist organization that currently runs Gaza, is linked, directly or otherwise, to the firing of five Katyushas at Eilat yesterday morning (Monday). It is assumed that Hamas is interested in thus sabotaging the possible opening of direct talks between Israel and Fatah – though such talks do not appear likely at this stage in any event, given Fatah’s latest announcements.
The rockets were fired on Monday morning from either Egypt’s Sinai Desert or southern Jordan. One rocket landed mistakenly in Jordan, killing one person and wounding three; no one was hurt by the rockets that landed in Israel.
Egypt has denied that the rockets were fired from its territory, but Israel and Jordan believe they were in fact fired from Egypt. Hamas has also denied involvement in the attacks.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke with both Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Mubarak on Monday night. “The criminal attack on innocents in Israel and Jordan,” Netanyahu said, “was perpetrated by terrorist elements who wish to sabotage the peace process. All countries in the region that seek peace must fight these forces.”
At least one of the rockets was found to be a Grad Katyusha, various types of which normally have ranges between 5 and 20 kilometers; the Fahr-3 Grad can reach up to 45 kilometers.
No effect on Eilat’s main business, tourism, has been noted since the rocket attacks.