IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon visited the Gaza Brigade Headquarters in northern Gaza last night and made it clear that the anti-Kassam offensive there will not be ending any time soon. "This is a successful operation," he said, "even though it is not totally preventing the continued Kassam attacks."
Two more Kassams were fired at the western Negev this morning, and one woman wounded by shrapnel was taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. Three mortar shells were fired today at Gush Katif communities.
Yaalon said, "We are prepared to continue this offensive not just for days, but for weeks."
An Israel Air Force strike against the Arab Palestinian terrorists last night killed four of them who were engaged in placing explosives. A fifth terrorist was killed today when IDF soldiers operating in Jebalya prevented a grenade attack. They shot and killed a man who tried to throw a grenade at the troops; no Israelis were hurt. Some 65-75 terrorists have been killed in the six days of the offensive, the vast majority of them Hamas and Al-Aksa terrorists.
Within Hamas there are differences of opinion over the continuation of Kassam rocket attacks. Some feel it's time to announce a temporary halt, while others feel that the attacks should be escalated.
At the behest of Arab countries, the United Nations will hold a special session tonight on Israel's so-called "invasion" of northern Gaza. The U.S. is expected to object to the resolution condemning Israel. A White House spokesman said yesterday that Israel has the right to defend itself, but should "weigh carefully" the ramifications of its operation. Israel has explained repeatedly that the offensive is designed to protect Israeli citizens from incessant rocket attacks.
The IDF continues to seek out wanted terrorists in Judea and Samaria, and arrested eight of them last night.
Deputy Defense Minister Ze'ev Boim (Likud) said today that pinpoint targeted attacks by the IDF might soon be replaced by more wide-ranging strikes of areas from where rockets and shells are launched. Extreme left-wing MK Zahava Gal'on (Meretz-Yahad) reacted with alarm to this possibility, asking Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz to announce that such strikes would be illegal.
Two more Kassams were fired at the western Negev this morning, and one woman wounded by shrapnel was taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. Three mortar shells were fired today at Gush Katif communities.
Yaalon said, "We are prepared to continue this offensive not just for days, but for weeks."
An Israel Air Force strike against the Arab Palestinian terrorists last night killed four of them who were engaged in placing explosives. A fifth terrorist was killed today when IDF soldiers operating in Jebalya prevented a grenade attack. They shot and killed a man who tried to throw a grenade at the troops; no Israelis were hurt. Some 65-75 terrorists have been killed in the six days of the offensive, the vast majority of them Hamas and Al-Aksa terrorists.
Within Hamas there are differences of opinion over the continuation of Kassam rocket attacks. Some feel it's time to announce a temporary halt, while others feel that the attacks should be escalated.
At the behest of Arab countries, the United Nations will hold a special session tonight on Israel's so-called "invasion" of northern Gaza. The U.S. is expected to object to the resolution condemning Israel. A White House spokesman said yesterday that Israel has the right to defend itself, but should "weigh carefully" the ramifications of its operation. Israel has explained repeatedly that the offensive is designed to protect Israeli citizens from incessant rocket attacks.
The IDF continues to seek out wanted terrorists in Judea and Samaria, and arrested eight of them last night.
Deputy Defense Minister Ze'ev Boim (Likud) said today that pinpoint targeted attacks by the IDF might soon be replaced by more wide-ranging strikes of areas from where rockets and shells are launched. Extreme left-wing MK Zahava Gal'on (Meretz-Yahad) reacted with alarm to this possibility, asking Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz to announce that such strikes would be illegal.