Several Arabs from Gaza attempted to break through the gate surrounding N\'vei Dekalim late this afternoon, but an IDF force opened fire against them. Early this morning, Palestinian terrorists fired a burst of six more mortar shells into a central Gush Katif community, significantly damaging at least one house and several cars but causing no injuries. Gaza Coast Regional Head Avner Shimoni says that the children and other residents are suffering psychologically from the continuing shelling of their homes.
Earlier, Israeli planes and tanks bombed terrorist positions in Khan Yunis, hitting two mortar-firing gangs - one of Hamas and one of Fatah - and killing four Arabs. Exchanges of fire continued in the Gadid and N\'vei Dekalim areas late this morning. Over a dozen mortar shells were fired at Gush Katif towns in the past two days, wounding two children. Gunfire was directed at IDF soldiers last night in several Gaza locations; no one was hurt, and the soldiers returned fire.
Late this afternoon, at least two Israeli tanks entered the PA-controlled city of Jenin, in northern Shomron, and an exchange of fire ensued. The Arabs claim that 25 of their men were hit. The tanks then left and took up positions around the city, which has been a stronghold of terror attacks over the past months.
In other IDF actions today, soldiers entered the PA-controlled town of Halhoul, near Hevron, and made several arrests... Kibbutz Eyal, in pre-1967 Israel near Kfar Sava, was on high alert for a few hours today when the fence facing Kalkilye was found to have been breached... A mentally unstable Arab man attempted, not for the first time, to infiltrate the community of Beit Haggai, south of Hevron. He was taken to the nearby police station...
A Jerusalem court today sentenced a 15-year-old Arab girl from Shechem to five years in prison for attempting to stab an Israeli policeman to death seven months ago. The incident occurred outside the Temple Mount, when screaming \'Allahu Akbar,\' she lunged at his neck with a knife. The policeman was able to turn and push her away at the last second. The sentencing judge said that the girl was filled with hatred towards Israel, \"nourished by the incitement she sees and hears on the Palestinian media.\"
In light of the above-mentioned violence, American mediator Gen. Anthony Zinni must already realize that his call last night for Israel and the PA to honor a 48-hour \"no violence\" period is a non-starter. Although Israel did not object to the idea in principle, Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer met with Zinni this afternoon and explained that Israel will continue its self-defense for as long as the terrorism continues. Ben-Eliezer also met today with the European Union\'s \"Foreign Minister\" Javier Solana; the European said afterwards that his meetings in Israel and the Palestinian Authority have left him more optimistic than ever before that the situation can be stabilized.
Gen. Zinni\'s comments after his meeting with Arafat two days ago are still making waves. He was quoted in Yediot Acharonot yesterday as saying, \"I have never encountered such lack of trustworthiness in my life,\" and in Ma\'ariv as saying that it was a \"waste of time to try to reach a serious agreement with Arafat.\"
Earlier, Israeli planes and tanks bombed terrorist positions in Khan Yunis, hitting two mortar-firing gangs - one of Hamas and one of Fatah - and killing four Arabs. Exchanges of fire continued in the Gadid and N\'vei Dekalim areas late this morning. Over a dozen mortar shells were fired at Gush Katif towns in the past two days, wounding two children. Gunfire was directed at IDF soldiers last night in several Gaza locations; no one was hurt, and the soldiers returned fire.
Late this afternoon, at least two Israeli tanks entered the PA-controlled city of Jenin, in northern Shomron, and an exchange of fire ensued. The Arabs claim that 25 of their men were hit. The tanks then left and took up positions around the city, which has been a stronghold of terror attacks over the past months.
In other IDF actions today, soldiers entered the PA-controlled town of Halhoul, near Hevron, and made several arrests... Kibbutz Eyal, in pre-1967 Israel near Kfar Sava, was on high alert for a few hours today when the fence facing Kalkilye was found to have been breached... A mentally unstable Arab man attempted, not for the first time, to infiltrate the community of Beit Haggai, south of Hevron. He was taken to the nearby police station...
A Jerusalem court today sentenced a 15-year-old Arab girl from Shechem to five years in prison for attempting to stab an Israeli policeman to death seven months ago. The incident occurred outside the Temple Mount, when screaming \'Allahu Akbar,\' she lunged at his neck with a knife. The policeman was able to turn and push her away at the last second. The sentencing judge said that the girl was filled with hatred towards Israel, \"nourished by the incitement she sees and hears on the Palestinian media.\"
In light of the above-mentioned violence, American mediator Gen. Anthony Zinni must already realize that his call last night for Israel and the PA to honor a 48-hour \"no violence\" period is a non-starter. Although Israel did not object to the idea in principle, Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer met with Zinni this afternoon and explained that Israel will continue its self-defense for as long as the terrorism continues. Ben-Eliezer also met today with the European Union\'s \"Foreign Minister\" Javier Solana; the European said afterwards that his meetings in Israel and the Palestinian Authority have left him more optimistic than ever before that the situation can be stabilized.
Gen. Zinni\'s comments after his meeting with Arafat two days ago are still making waves. He was quoted in Yediot Acharonot yesterday as saying, \"I have never encountered such lack of trustworthiness in my life,\" and in Ma\'ariv as saying that it was a \"waste of time to try to reach a serious agreement with Arafat.\"