Palestinian terrorists resumed rocket attacks at Israel's Negev areas this morning, leading to the injury of two people. One Kassam rocket exploded near an elementary school in the city of Sderot, and two others blew up near Kibbutz Nachal Oz. This was at least the sixth rocket attack on Sderot in the past 21 months, but the government appears to be taking it in stride. Following the first attack, in April 2001, IDF air and ground forces attacked several Palestinian Authority targets, killing one PA para-military policeman and injuring some 30. The other attacks, however, drew more minor responses, if any.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz did tell his Cabinet colleagues this morning that a number of very substantial measures against the terrorist infrastructures are in the works. He did not elaborate.
In a possibly related item, for the first time in a long while, and in keeping with a government decision following last week's Palestinian massacre of 22 people in Tel Aviv, the army attempted a "targeted liquidation" of Arab terrorists today. At least three rockets were fired from an Israel Air Force Apache helicopter at a car in southern Gaza carrying Hamas terrorists on their way to perpetrating a Kassam rocket attack. It appears, however, that the terrorists escaped, while two passers-by were killed.
In other Palestinian attacks today, terrorists fired this morning at an Israeli fuel truck traveling near Hevron; no one was hurt, but the truck was damaged, and the would-be murderer was shot and killed by Israeli troops... Arabs fired at an IDF force near Jenin this afternoon; no one was hurt… Palestinian terrorists hurled a firebomb and rocks at an Israeli bus not far from Ariel; the bus was damaged, but no one was hurt…
Hizbullah terrorists, just over Israel's northern border, fired anti-aircraft fire towards the Kiryat Shmonah area today, damaging a kindergarten but causing no injuries. The Israeli defense establishment is looking closely at the Hizbullah front, where thousands of rockets, katyushas and mortars are deployed against Israel. Some top officers have recommended that Israel "deal thoroughly" with this threat while the U.S. attacks Iraq.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz did tell his Cabinet colleagues this morning that a number of very substantial measures against the terrorist infrastructures are in the works. He did not elaborate.
In a possibly related item, for the first time in a long while, and in keeping with a government decision following last week's Palestinian massacre of 22 people in Tel Aviv, the army attempted a "targeted liquidation" of Arab terrorists today. At least three rockets were fired from an Israel Air Force Apache helicopter at a car in southern Gaza carrying Hamas terrorists on their way to perpetrating a Kassam rocket attack. It appears, however, that the terrorists escaped, while two passers-by were killed.
In other Palestinian attacks today, terrorists fired this morning at an Israeli fuel truck traveling near Hevron; no one was hurt, but the truck was damaged, and the would-be murderer was shot and killed by Israeli troops... Arabs fired at an IDF force near Jenin this afternoon; no one was hurt… Palestinian terrorists hurled a firebomb and rocks at an Israeli bus not far from Ariel; the bus was damaged, but no one was hurt…
Hizbullah terrorists, just over Israel's northern border, fired anti-aircraft fire towards the Kiryat Shmonah area today, damaging a kindergarten but causing no injuries. The Israeli defense establishment is looking closely at the Hizbullah front, where thousands of rockets, katyushas and mortars are deployed against Israel. Some top officers have recommended that Israel "deal thoroughly" with this threat while the U.S. attacks Iraq.