Palestinian terrorists in Gaza have fired an almost daily portion of Kassam rockets towards Israel over the past two weeks, and yesterday's serving included a rocket that landed in the southern areas of Ashkelon. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz convened a meeting of senior defense establishment figures, and demanded that the army continue to fire artillery at northern Gaza as a deterrence measure.
The Israel Air Force in fact attacked early this morning four northern Gaza areas from where Kassams have been fired.
However, Mofaz emphasized that he is not interested, at this point, to initiate action that will involved the entry of ground forces into Gaza.
Mofaz was running for head of the Likud until last week, when he suddenly decided to transfer to Ariel Sharon's Kadima party, where he is guaranteed a Knesset seat and, most likely, a Cabinet position. In light of what many viewed as his unabashed opportunism, many questions were raised as to his fitness to make life-and-death decisions in the capacity of Defense Minister.
Ashkelon Mayor Roni Mahatzri, who took a "not to worry" tone after last week's Kassam attack towards the city, is now demanding firm action. He said the residents of Ashkelon sense that the "governmental and defense frameworks are neglecting them," and demands that the army rush up a "Red Dawn" early warning system in the city.
"Yesterday," Mahatzri said, "the terrorists fired a Kassam rocket from a Jewish community that was evacuated, Dugit [one of the three dismantled northern Gaza communities - ed.], and the government is ignoring its responsibility to protect us."
The fear in the army as well as in Ashkelon is that in addition to the dangers facing the residents, the sensitive installations adjacent to the city are at risk. The rockets have already come close to the Rothenberg power plant, as well as the oil pipeline to Eilat. The terrorist organizations have declared that these are, in fact, their targets - and have improved their precision over the weeks and months.
Talk of a ground operation in northern Gaza - the area of the destroyed Jewish communities - is gaining steam, despite Mofaz's objections. The army would not necessarily take over these areas, but would rather enter merely to push the terrorists out of range of southern Ashkelon.
Just outside Jerusalem's new southern Har Homa neighborhood this morning, security forces arrested two Arab terrorists. The Arabs were holding knives and ready-to-fire pipebombs. The two had crossed into Jerusalem from PA-controlled Bethlehem, and were arrested just outside the fence surrounding Har Homa. The terrorists were taken for interrogation.