Israel to UN: Rocket Firing Hurting Peace Efforts

August 2, 2010

“The people of Israel have the right to live in peace and security. The recent attacks on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip seriously violate international law and undermine the peace process and the efforts to renew the direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority [PA],” it was stated.

A Qassam rocket fired from northern Gaza on Saturday night [July 31] hit the roof of a building in an educational institution located in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, outside of Sderot. There were no reports of injuries. Israel's Air Force responded by targeting a weapons smuggling tunnel on the Egyptian border and a tunnel below the border fence meant to serve terrorists in attacks inside Israeli territory.

A mortar shell fired from the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday morning [August 1] exploded near a kibbutz in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

The current round of violence along Israel's border with Gaza began Friday morning [July 30], when a Grad rocket fired from the Hamas-ruled territory landed near an apartment building in central Ashkelon. A few hours later two mortars landed within the limits of the Eshkol Regional Council. There were no reports of injury in either attack, but eight people suffered from shock in Ashkelon.

State officials postulated Friday that the Grad rocket fire was an attempt by terror groups in Gaza to strike up conflict in the region ahead of negotiations between Israel and the PA. In response to the firing, the Israel Air Force bombed various targets in the Gaza Strip on Friday night killing a Hamas militant and injuring 12 people.
 

Posted on August 2, 2010

Source: (By Attila Somfalvi, Shmulik Hadad contributed, Ynetnews, August 1, 2010)

Photo Credit: Photo by Isranet