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Comments:  149
Last update - 21:13 25/12/2008
Grad missile, 5 Qassams strike Negev as IDF readies to hit back
By Avi Issacharoff and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Tags: Hamas, Israel News, Gaza 

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However, Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced late Thursday that despite Israel's policy of closing Gaza border crossings in response to rocket fire, he would authorize the passage of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on Friday.

On Wednesday, as an initial retaliatory measure, an Israel Air Force strike killed a Hamas gunman in the southern Gaza Strip, and wounded two other Palestinians. Israel's response will go beyond the air raid, an Israeli official told Haaretz.

"Our response will be substantial and painful to Hamas," the official said.

By late morning Wednesday, the Magen David Adom rescue service declared its highest level of alert.

One of the rockets launched Wednesday exploded next to a children's playground in the southern town of Netivot and a mortar shell scored a direct hit on a house in Kibbutz Sha'ar Hanegev, causing extensive damage. A house in the community of Sdot Negev was also severely damaged after it absorbed a direct rocket hit.

Two more rockets, including a Grad-type missile, exploded in a public area in the northern Negev city of Ashkelon.

During a cabinet meeting about the situation in and outside the Gaza Strip, a senior Israel Defense Forces officer gave ministers in attendance an overview of the potential retaliatory moves that the defense establishment is planning against Hamas' regime.

Most strikes will come from the air and be aimed at facilities believed to be of strategic importance to Hamas' political and military leadership. However, the officer said that weather conditions are currently preventing the air force from launching the raids.

According to officials in Jerusalem, the overview also included a special reference to the possible implications of attacking Hamas.

"We are not eager to strike, but we will not hesitate to act," one official said. "If Hamas is looking for noise, we will make Gaza very noisy."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government said it had shown restraint until now but vowed to act if the salvoes continued.

The same official said that Israel would be willing to extend the June cease-fire, which expired last week, if Hamas would agree to resuming it.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to arrive on Thursday in Cairo for a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whose administration helped facilitate the cease-fire. Sources close to Livni said she intended to tell Mubarak that Israel will not accept Hamas' current terms for a ceasefire. Hamas' statements also contained a similar mix of threats and assurances.

"Hamas will hit not only Sderot, but also what lies beyond Sderot," Hamas legislator Mushir al-Masri said, in a possible reference to extended ballistic capabilities.

Other spokespeople said the organization will agree to "resume" the ceasefire, if the organization's conditions are met. Hamas is demanding an improved ceasefire agreement, that also includes the West Bank.

In a statement by Hamas' military wing, Iz al-Din al-Qassam, a spokesperson warned that "thousands of additional Israelis will soon be within the range of our rockets if Israel continues with its aggression."

"The residents of the south will stay in the bomb shelters for a long time," the Hamas statement continued, adding that "threats of an [Israeli] military offensive don't scare us because we are more prepared than ever."

All Israeli towns within a 30-kilometer radius of the Gaza Strip were hooked up on Wednesday to an early warning system designed to deliver rocket launch alerts. Among the newly-connected towns and cities are Ofakim and Netivot.

Ashdod, with its center just outside the 30-kilometer mark, is expected to be connected to the system within the next 24 hours. Some towns are already connected to the "Color Red" system, which alerts residents living within a seven-kilometer radius of the Strip.

Meir Yifrach, head of Sdot Negev Regional Council, said that the current situation was intolerable and that "the people of the southern region of Israel are demanding that the government order the army to act in Gaza so that civilian life may be allowed to return to normal."

"It defies logic that the firing of so many Qassam should be allowed to cause so much fear and damage to the people of Israel during Hannukah," he said. "It started with a drizzle, then the Qassams began to rain down hard, and now we're already experiencing a deluge."

Yanir Yagna contributed to this article.

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      1.   Empty threats by the cowed Israeli "Goverment" 01:51  |  Absolute Sweden 25/12/08
      2.   Unbelievable 01:51  |  Edifice 25/12/08
      3.   weather conditions are currently preventing... 01:54  |  vik 25/12/08
      4.   Why they keep saying what they are going to do? 02:02  |  Dan 25/12/08
      5.   #1--ahhh anti Zionist peaceniks 02:04  |  Paul Freedman 25/12/08
      6.   Cabinet approves Gaza op 02:06  |  RobertEmory 25/12/08
      7.   Its not rocket science.. 02:37  |  Johnnymac 25/12/08
      8.   If Not Now when 02:38  |  AB 25/12/08
      9.   damned if you do 03:06  |  schafe82 25/12/08
      10.   Give `em hell, hamas deserves nothing else 03:31  |  Johnny 25/12/08
      11.   Cabinet approves Gaza op after 70 missiles hit Israel 03:36  |  Shlomo 25/12/08
      12.   Ein Breyrah, Hamas must be destroyed or Israel will have no rest 03:42  |  Oy Vey 25/12/08
      13.   Bombs for bombs 03:51  |  Tolik 25/12/08
      14.   strategy 04:21  |  Yaacob 25/12/08
      15.   To: Robert Emory 04:38  |  Angel 25/12/08
      16.   haha! They`ll BOMB EMPTY BUILDINGS and say war is over in 2 days 04:40  |  amir 25/12/08
      17.   Gaza/Southern Israel 04:42  |  KDJ 25/12/08
      18.   We`re going to attack 04:44  |  David K 25/12/08
      19.   Why does Hamas wants an Israeli invasion in Gaza? 04:59  |  Mark B. 25/12/08
      20.   Israel`s continued war crimes. 05:25  |  Julia Lamont 25/12/08
      21.   HOW HAMAS TARGETS SDEROT - GOOGLE 05:38  |  Barry R. 25/12/08
      22.   Hamas endorses Kadima 05:47  |  Ethan 25/12/08
      23.   Answer to 13 05:53  |  Ron 25/12/08
      24.   Same old Pathetic Response 05:59  |  Born In The USA 25/12/08
      25.   Hamas is, sadly, signing Gazans` death certificates 06:02  |  Richard S 25/12/08
      26.   A furlong for a furlong, fury for fury 06:28  |  The Archives 25/12/08
      27.   Ground op will be a disaster for all 06:29  |  Robby 25/12/08
      28.   Gaza OP 06:31  |  Stanley 25/12/08
      29.   No peace for us no peace for the Keneset! 06:46  |  Dr. N Golan 25/12/08
      30.   This stinking govt. won`t do a damn thing. 06:58  |  Jew 25/12/08
      31.   It looks to me this recent cabinet approval for an op is niether 07:12  |  Sarah 25/12/08
      32.   The truth is two things will happen 07:18  |  Judea 25/12/08
      33.   Buffer zone. 08:17  |  Izhak 25/12/08
      34.   hamas 08:44  |  tony 25/12/08
      35.   Retaliation in kind to kassam barrage 08:57  |  R. Gur 25/12/08
      36.   Richard S Here is why Hamas is rocketing... 09:36  |  goofy jew 25/12/08
      37.   let`s think out of the box! 09:46  |  an Israeli 25/12/08
      38.   mefalsim - salaam - get the facts 09:47  |  goofy jew 25/12/08
      39.   To Nr 34 Hamas 09:58  |  Arie 25/12/08
      40.   Izhak #33 and the Buffer Zone 09:58  |  Tzfonit 25/12/08
      41.   why not defoliate their orchards and any tree lined areas, 10:08  |  harm not a single 25/12/08
      42.   Israel has been attacked militarily by neighboring country: Gaza 10:22  |  Aviv Rabinowitz 25/12/08
      43.   Only reason thousands of Israelis are NOT MASSACRED 10:27  |  Dolly 25/12/08
      44.   You are not alone 10:32  |  Paul 25/12/08
      45.   Why has Israel been waiting for so long to attack Gaza and 10:44  |  Albert 25/12/08
      46.   a great deal of damage can be done from the air 10:46  |  harzion 25/12/08
      47.   Dear Hamas............................ 11:04  |  zoe 25/12/08
      48.   Thinking out of the box-I agree. 11:08  |  sharon 25/12/08
      49.   Restrain is the best policy - Israel is right to wait. 11:37  |  Strategist 25/12/08
      50.   Wont all of Israel be like S`derot after West Bank withdrawal? 11:39  |  Dave Neil 25/12/08
      51.   Great Solution... 11:44  |  Dave Noa 25/12/08
      52.   Let`s get on with it! 11:45  |  Jack 25/12/08
      53.   Absolute Sweden 11:46  |  aharon 25/12/08
      54.   David Neil 11:47  |  sharon 25/12/08
      55.   A proud day of Dignity for MariaPalestina 11:54  |  sharon 25/12/08
      56.   #50, Dave Neil 12:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/12/08
      57.   Yaacob that`s precisely the idea 12:33  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 25/12/08
      58.   Life and Death 12:48  |  Arie 25/12/08
      59.   The West Bank 13:04  |  Linichka 25/12/08
      60.   But when? 13:06  |  MR 25/12/08
      61.   It was high time 13:16  |  KUTW 25/12/08
      62.   Dear Hamas47 14:12  |  Daniel 25/12/08
      63.   One state solution 14:59  |  Zaf 25/12/08
      64.   Dave Noa # 51 Israel Can`t Do That 15:10  |  Jeff Northridge 25/12/08
      65.   Margie in ta make a xmas funny 15:40  |  Labhras 25/12/08
      66.   #3 Vic Yes,excuses,excuses.Now it is the weather?? 15:43  |  KATHY 25/12/08
      67.   Julia Lamont 15:48  |  Frank Mazuca 25/12/08
      68.   #46 harzion...okay what you say,but! what is stopping 15:55  |  KATHY 25/12/08
      69.   at this moment a full invasion is not unnecessary #46 16:05  |  yirmi 25/12/08
      70.   Jeff - stop being disengenuous. 16:10  |  Labhras 25/12/08
      71.   prepares..prepares..prepares 16:18  |  Arie 25/12/08
      72.   There are times needed for radical action 16:19  |  Arie 25/12/08
      73.   Jeff Northridge#62 -Israel can`t do that either 16:09  |  Roo 25/12/08
      74.   Rocket Fire 16:54  |  M 25/12/08
      75.   roo "artillery fire is not permitted" 17:37  |  israel granit 25/12/08
      76.   roo "carpet bombing is prohibited" 17:42  |  erez gerstein 25/12/08
      77.   Counter Battery Fire - anyone reading the news? 17:55  |  Mark Lincoln 25/12/08
      78.   kathy the weather excuse is real 18:00  |  harzion 25/12/08
      79.   61 Kim, Re Terrorists 18:07  |  Dutch 25/12/08
      80.   ALL THEY want for X-mass is a little PEACE 18:21  |  MosesProposesFREEDOM 25/12/08
      81.   Roo # 73 That Depends Upon Accuracy (part 1) 18:48  |  Jeff Northridge 25/12/08
      82.   dud missiles.... 19:12  |  ravi 25/12/08
      83.   To #49 Strategist - Second Try 19:17  |  MR 25/12/08
      84.   Roo # 73 That Depends Upon Accuracy (part 2) 19:24  |  Jeff Northridge 25/12/08
      85.   Send Hamas Plans Before Attack 19:43  |  Baruch Gold 25/12/08
      86.   Chess 19:51  |  Fligmin 25/12/08
      87.   #78 Moses 19:53  |  MR 25/12/08
      88.   MosesProposesFREEDOM 19:53  |  Mark Lincoln 25/12/08
      89.   #76 Thanks harzion for the information..I am not 20:11  |  KATHY 25/12/08
      90.   #84 Mark Lincoln ..Indeed that is what they`d want HA? 20:16  |  KATHY 25/12/08
      91.   roo where did we mention carpet bombing? 20:18  |  israel granit 25/12/08
      92.   roo if the barbarians shoot at us from among civilians 20:19  |  israel tal 25/12/08
      93.   roo i dont recall israelis lecturing australian troops 20:21  |  sasoon 25/12/08
      94.   Labhras # 70 Is That An Argument? 20:31  |  Jeff Northridge 25/12/08
      95.   high time to defoliate the "Kassam orchards" hiding therein Gaza. 20:46  |  amir 25/12/08
      96.   It gives us perfect cover! As long as they fire anything! 20:58  |  atrick 25/12/08
      97.   Where`s the promised response? 21:06  |  Steven 25/12/08
      98.   ravi recently in miripur dozens of ladies demonstrated 21:10  |  pandit 25/12/08
      99.   Jeff Northridge 21:19  |  Roo 25/12/08
      100.   IDF reserves just placed on high alert standby 21:21  |  Sarah 25/12/08
      101.   It is a long story MR, but basically it just happened 21:23  |  Mark Lincoln 25/12/08
      102.   Where`s the promised response? 21:32  |  Mark Lincoln 25/12/08
      103.   Talk is Cheap 21:32  |  Talk is Cheap 25/12/08
      104.   we look like cowards to non Jews when we don`t 22:08  |  Sampson 25/12/08
      105.   roo "idf knocking off sunbathers on the beach" 22:43  |  yirmi 25/12/08
      106.   barak response 22:43  |  alexi 25/12/08
      107.   goofy jew is beyond belief GOOFY 22:44  |  noor 25/12/08
      108.   Re : Right all of them should expend some time 23:00  |  Ines 25/12/08
      109.   #92: Roo, The phony Gaza beach story was discredited long ago 23:02  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 25/12/08
      110.   Israel coward authority 23:02  |  Mark Bernadiner 25/12/08
      111.   Re# 11 Yes,, it is really sad... 23:05  |  Ines 25/12/08
      112.   Re # I do agree... 23:13  |  Ines 25/12/08
      113.   Grad missile, 5 Qassams 00:36  |  Sam 26/12/08
      114.   "Never Again?" 00:52  |  Leon 26/12/08
      115.   For Cipora # 56 on Gaza to Egypt and WB to Jordan. 01:09  |  Dave Neil 26/12/08
      116.   BOTH SIDES TARGETING CIVILIANS 01:42  |  Arik Silverman 26/12/08
      117.   Noor 01:50  |  Peter Williams 26/12/08
      118.   Music is the answer 01:56  |  Peter Williams 26/12/08
      119.   informGaza 01:58  |  Yaacob 26/12/08
      120.   Doc Holliday #109 02:27  |  Roo 26/12/08
      121.   My thoughts 02:45  |  mike 26/12/08
      122.   I agree with Fligman 02:57  |  Jasper 26/12/08
      123.   Israel will be held responsible for instigating this violence ... 03:16  |  Dutch 26/12/08
      124.   noor and democracy 03:31  |  Jasper 26/12/08
      125.   unbelievable 04:09  |  Rab Burns 26/12/08
      126.   While you`re busy with Gaza, Iran goes forward to become nuclear 04:14  |  Aounist 26/12/08
      127.   12 Oy Vey, Re Crushing Hamas 04:27  |  Dutch 26/12/08
      128.   ISRAEL HAS NO GOVERMENT 04:42  |  Jorge 26/12/08
      129.   Move the Pal prisoners to the border towns! 04:47  |  Abe Gurman 26/12/08
      130.   Given them Hell & may G-d will be with you ! 05:28  |  Akram Zekaria 26/12/08
      131.   #113, Dave Neil 06:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/12/08
      132.   Dutch advice; surrender now, resistance is futile 07:17  |  Oy Vey 26/12/08
      133.   No, Lincoln. It didn`t "just happen." (Third Try) 08:02  |  SDHD 26/12/08
      134.   For Cipora # 131 in great interest. 08:03  |  Dave Neil 26/12/08
      135.   #134, Dave Neil 08:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/12/08
      136.   What would the US do? 08:55  |  Mark76 26/12/08
      137.   Reply to Leon in Los Angeles (Post No. 114) 10:04  |  Johnny Weintraub 26/12/08
      138.   More B.S. from IDF Generals about coming Gaza Victory 10:26  |  Uri Levy 26/12/08
      139.   `Given them Hell` Akram Z. #130 12:34  |  Uriah 26/12/08
      140.   #120: Roo, the fact that the Pals have faked many stories 15:27  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 26/12/08
      141.   utagawa`s flawed analysis 22:23  |  Raul Gilberto 26/12/08
      142.   DOC HOLLIDAY 22:25  |  Roo 26/12/08
      143.   #130 Akram Zekaria..Don`t take any notice of the Detractors.YES! 23:53  |  KATHY 26/12/08
      144.   #116 Peter Williams...Hey,wasn`t that done by the Americans in?? 01:32  |  Ross 27/12/08
      145.   Ross, obviously a Barry Manilow fan! 06:48  |  Peter Williams 27/12/08
      146.   ISRAEL CANNOT BOMB PALESTINIANS INTO SUBMISSION 17:55  |  Mohammed al-Swain 27/12/08
      147.   hah 21:59  |  Rena 27/12/08
      148.   Mohamed 02:23  |  sWeis Melbourne 28/12/08
      149.   #142: Roo you have refuted nothing, nice try. 14:14  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 28/12/08
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