Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 08, 2008 Kislev 11, 5769 | | Israel Time: 21:26 (EST+7)
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Last update - 08:40 08/12/2008
IAF bombs Gaza militants preparing to fire Qassams
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Qassam fire, Israel rockets 

The Israel Air Force on Sunday bombed a group of Palestinians militants in Gaza as they were preparing to fire Qassam rockets at the western Negev. The Israel Defense Forces reported a direct hit and said casualties were identified.

The strike came just as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's cabinet on Sunday allocated NIS 600 million for the reinforcement of homes in communities near the Gaza Strip border.

The funds, intended to protect buildings in the Qassam-battered towns, will be distributed over the course of three years.
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As part of the government program, protected rooms will be constructed in residential buildings and ground-level homes in communities within a 4.5 kilometer radius from the border fence.

Southern Israel was battered by further Qassam rocket fire from Gaza on Sunday afternoon, as residents of the Negev town of Sderot practiced their response to a Qassam alert.

One of the rockets struck at the entrance to Sderot, and two more fell in open areas in the Shaar Hanegev area. Later on Friday, an additional two rockets were fired at the western Negev, landing next to a kibbutz in the Eshkol region, and the second next to a kibbutz in the Sdot Negev council.

There were no casualties damages reported as a result of the rocket fire.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who heads Labor, and the Kadima chief, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, faced off Sunday morning over Israel's response to the ongoing rocket fire.

Livni accused Barak of inaction in the face of aggression from the Gaza Strip, while Barak countered with accusations that Livni is motivated by the upcoming general elections, in which she is one of the lead candidates to become prime minister.

On Saturday, Livni said she intended to convene an urgent meeting with Barak and the prime minister, to reevaluate the cease-fire with Hamas.

Referring a barrage of more than 20 Qassam rockets and mortar shells fired at Israel by Gaza militants over the weekend, Livni said: "The agreement isn't being observed by the other side anyway."

During their meeting on Sunday, Barak said that "some people" were calling for an end to the cease-fire out of political considerations, saying "this is a political season that has brought with it brash remarks. What we need is responsibility and level headedness - not criticism."

"We are aware of the suffering of the Israelis living in the Gaza area communities," the Defense Minister continued. "The fire [against them] is in part a response to successful IDF operations aimed at killing rocket launchers and terror attackers. The large-scale Gaza offensive isn't going anywhere, and the responsibility is, ultimately, mine. We are operating in efforts to make the most accurate decision at the most opportune time, and more than anything, not to make a mistake."

Livni responded that as a foreign minister she operates on political planes, and added "but he who is responsible for [Israel's] security must also take action."

According to Livni, the defense minister has been aware of her position on the issue "since the day he achieved the truce." However, she added, "there is no truce now - Israel must respond when fired upon."

Barak's associates said in response that "Tzipi Livni's idle chatter has crossed the line. With all due respect for her campaign, it is only fitting that Livni show responsibility toward Israel's security instead of the weak messages placed in her mouth."

A Kadima spokesman issued a response to the remarks, saying that Barak is not only not sympathetic, not nice and not trendy [as his campaign ads indicate] but during recent months he is also not a defense minister when it comes to anything to do with Gaza.
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  1.   Where else in the world? 12:40  |  Ofer 07/12/08
  2.   Let the little lady do his job! 12:54  |  Petra 07/12/08
  3.   Idle chatter ...what else..! 13:08  |  Stephen. 07/12/08
  4.   In my opinion, Barak is acting responsibly! More so than Livni. 13:13  |  S 07/12/08
  5.   i hate to put soldiers at risk 13:24  |  harzion 07/12/08
  6.   to ehud barak 13:25  |  harzion 07/12/08
  7.   it was barak broke the truce right? short memory barak? 13:29  |  crazy 07/12/08
  8.   Two wrongs do make a right to go home 13:43  |  Simon 07/12/08
  9.   L?enfer c`est les autres 13:51  |  Steve 07/12/08
  10.   "Politically motivated" 14:13  |  Akram Zekaria 07/12/08
  11.   Ofer 14:22  |  christoph 07/12/08
  12.   Talk is cheap while they still fire rockets at Israel 14:27  |  Harvey 07/12/08
  13.   Barak 14:29  |  Barrie 07/12/08
  14.   we love Barak! 14:38  |  marwan 07/12/08
  15.   just let the enemy know when we are coming 14:45  |  Avi 07/12/08
  16.   Barak will be responsible when Isarelis are killed by kassams! 15:07  |  redmike 07/12/08
  17.   little gifts from God 15:15  |  Calvin Grinder 07/12/08
  18.   For Stephen, something else 15:27  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 07/12/08
  19.   Common Practice 15:41  |  Baz Mann 07/12/08
  20.   Kadima looks tired of power or in utter despair ! 16:07  |  Akram Zekaria 07/12/08
  21.   Barak vs. Livni. 16:49  |  Daniel Garcia 07/12/08
  22.   Barak is aware 17:23  |  Joshua 07/12/08
  23.   Barak Conned You 17:32  |  George Kaplan 07/12/08
  24.   the 1%ers fiddle while the Negev burns! 17:37  |  Arie 07/12/08
  25.   Barak gets paid by arabs for his inaction,his Jordanian oil-shoal 17:40  |  Absolute Sweden 07/12/08
  26.   Is it time for the military to take control? 17:42  |  Arie 07/12/08
  27.   suddenly Gaza homes are to be protected 17:47  |  Avi 07/12/08
  28.   Barack has been removed from all reality 18:36  |  Levi 07/12/08
  29.   #1-#17 18:56  |  jo 07/12/08
  30.   Here Is What We Know For Sure 19:01  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 07/12/08
  31.   Israel should close the crossings, cease the supply of gas, 19:09  |  Yael 07/12/08
  32.   Jo #18 19:27  |  Jasper 07/12/08
  33.   Firepower 19:40  |  Linichka 07/12/08
  34.   What Barak is Doing? 19:43  |  Ron 07/12/08
  35.   JUST LIKE 1973 20:18  |  Ian 07/12/08
  36.   jo in houston: your argument is a bit skewed 20:43  |  Arie 07/12/08
  37.   what needs to be done- THE PLAN 21:25  |  USA MILITARY EXPERT 07/12/08
  38.   It`s beyond time for any state to excuse this brutal killing .... 22:00  |  Dutch 07/12/08
  39.   Barak Useless in 2000, useless Now too 22:18  |  Baruch Gold 07/12/08
  40.   The UN should move to suspend Israel .... 23:10  |  Dutch 07/12/08
  41.   #1 Ofer asks a question.... 01:54  |  Johnboy 08/12/08
  42.   take back gazaand give same size land to west bank 02:13  |  seth thomas 08/12/08
  43.   Just like 1973 Ian? 02:32  |  Mark Lincoln 08/12/08
  44.   Just like 1973 Ian? 02:32  |  Mark Lincoln 08/12/08
  45.   seth thomas 04:11  |  Sean 08/12/08
  46.   Strike Hard, Strike Fast, Strike Now 04:51  |  Mark Hamil 08/12/08
  47.   to # 39 05:57  |  Mick 08/12/08
  48.   barak is right 07:04  |  eric 08/12/08
  49.   Disturbed israelis self perception 07:18  |  Unbelievable 08/12/08
  50.   quassams 07:27  |  a jew 08/12/08
  51.   International law applies also for Israel 07:31  |  Frodo 08/12/08
  52.   To: Dutch 16:11  |  Angel 08/12/08
  53.   #43 Mark Lincoln:can you read? 19:31  |  Ian 08/12/08
  54.   Dutch 20:14  |  zapa pelttari 08/12/08
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