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World Jewish News
2 houses damaged as Kassams strike Sderot, Sha'ar Hanegev
26.02.2009
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continued their rocket attacks against Israel on Thursday, launching two Kassam rockets early in the morning which struck Sderot and the Sha'ar Hanegev region.
n Sderot, tragedy was avoided as one rocket landed close to two houses, damaging both but causing no injuries. A number of Sderot residents were also treated for shock. No one was wounded and no damage was reported in the Sha'ar Hanegev attack.
The rocket attacks have persisted despite efforts by Israel to secure a cease-fire through Egyptian mediation.
Two weeks ago a truce deal seemed imminent, with both Egyptian and Hamas officials claiming that an agreement was only "hours away." However, the talks hit a snag when Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared that no cease-fire would be signed without the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.
Since that time, rocket attacks against the western Negev have been ongoing, and Israel has frequently responded with military strikes. On Wednesday, two Kassam rockets hit southern Israel, provoking an Israeli air strike against seven smuggling tunnels under the Philadlephi Corridor later in the day. Neither the rockets nor the air strikes caused any casualties.
Meanwhile, Olmert on Wednesday reinstated senior Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad as his special envoy to Egypt, just two days after Gilad had been removed for publicly criticizing the premier. Gilad, who has lead the negotiations for a cease-fire, is expected to continue his efforts in the coming days.
In related news, Olmert's point-man on prisoner issues, Ofer Dekel, was scheduled to fly to Cairo Thursday morning, according to Army Radio, as part of efforts to secure Schalit's release.
Dekel was expected to present Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman with a list of Palestinian prisoners that Israel is willing to release as part of a deal with Hamas.
Источник: JPost.com
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