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Last update - 01:47 02/03/2009
Seven Qassams hit Negev; Olmert vows 'painful' response
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: IDF, Hamas, Gaza Strip 

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Sunday launched seven Qassam rockets into southern Israel, six of them just hours after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised a 'painful, uncompromising response' to Palestinian rocket fire.

One of the rockets struck in a field in the Sha'ar Hanegev region. Another exploded in the backyard of a Sderot home, causing damage. A third launched earlier in the day hit near Ashkelon,

There were no casualties reported in any of the strikes.
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Olmert's vow came a day after ten rockets were fired at Israel from the coastal territory, bringing the number of projectiles launched from Gaza since the truce to more than 100.

Speaking before the weekly cabinet meeting, Olmert accused Hamas of using Qassam rockets to make up for their losses suffered during the three-week Israel Defense Forces offensive in the Gaza Strip which ended in late January.

"Hamas is trying to recover from the stiff blow they suffered during Operation Cast Lead through the use of terror," Olmert said.

Olmert said that Israel would respond to rocket fire until "terror groups understand that Israel will not accept these attacks." He also said that Israel's response will not adhere "to the expectations of terrorists," and include a wide array of operations that can implemented "until quiet is restored to the South."

Six of the rockets fired Saturday targeted Gaza-area communities, two hit Ashkelon, one landed in the Eshkol district and one near Sdot Negev area, the IDF said.

There were no casualties or property damage in the rocket attacks, with the exception of an empty schoolyard in Ashkelon that suffered some damage.

Israel launched a three-week offensive into the Gaza Strip on Dec. 26th, in response to continued rocket fire on southern communities over the last several years. During the operation, 10 IDF soldiers and three Israeli civilians were killed, in addition to over 1,300 Palestinians, according to Palestinian sources.

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      1.   Add Maccaroni to Pasta Delay .... 11:42  |  Joseph.E 01/03/09
      2.   U.S. Secretary of State vow to two-state solution 11:44  |  Joseph.E 01/03/09
      3.   Well spoken Mr. Olmert 11:55  |  Johnny 01/03/09
      4.   More here than meets the eye 11:56  |  Natallie Durson 01/03/09
      5.   Ending the war with the Palestinians 11:56  |  John Saul 01/03/09
      6.   Who is Olmert? 12:08  |  Maureen Ann 01/03/09
      7.   Iran`s order 12:19  |  Peyman 01/03/09
      8.   # 3 saul 12:45  |  Germany 01/03/09
      9.   j 12:46  |  j 01/03/09
      10.   Israel`s Bashers Love Olmert Warning. 13:22  |  Joseph.E 01/03/09
      11.   Hamas is firing rockets because of the Hariri investigation... 13:29  |  David 01/03/09
      12.   Natalie, Your stupid Preaching is pathetic. 13:30  |  chasaboy 01/03/09
      13.   What a wicked man... 13:33  |  Dutch 01/03/09
      14.   Nuttily-Prolonging hostilities 13:45  |  Ari ben Yisrael 01/03/09
      15.   vows 13:48  |  Sharona 01/03/09
      16.   painful response!!!! 14:04  |  Ridha 01/03/09
      17.   When does this criminal finally go? 14:07  |  Marilyn 01/03/09
      18.   Olmert trying to deflect 14:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/03/09
      19.   LOL 14:41  |  Marcel 01/03/09
      20.   Olmert Vows 14:41  |  Fredy Ross 01/03/09
      21.   What a wicked leader...all he offers is more violence 14:43  |  Dutch 01/03/09
      22.   OLMERT IS NOT A MAN 14:51  |  Freethinker 01/03/09
      23.   NATALIE DURSON 15:02  |  mike 01/03/09
      24.   Joseph.E: who exactly is breaking the law, again? 15:09  |  AT 01/03/09
      25.   Not Israel 15:11  |  Steven Elliott 01/03/09
      26.   no war was won 15:18  |  vogel 01/03/09
      27.   There Is Only One Response 15:20  |  Bill Foonman 01/03/09
      28.   wow natallie!!! 15:24  |  yosi 01/03/09
      29.   painful again huh? 15:27  |  rm 01/03/09
      30.   It`s already been painful Mr. Olmert 15:32  |  sh 01/03/09
      31.   Olmert 15:43  |  baurat 01/03/09
      32.   Joseph.E`s response 15:43  |  Norman 01/03/09
      33.   The ones shooting those useless rockets are collaborators! 15:44  |  Yassin 01/03/09
      34.   na-na-na-na-na; Olmert sticks out his tongue at Hamas 15:52  |  Tova M. 01/03/09
      35.   We have heard this joker boast before 15:58  |  Mark Lincoln 01/03/09
      36.   Nothings going to happen 16:03  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/03/09
      37.   Olmert out Hamas still alive 16:14  |  jacques 01/03/09
      38.   natillie -2 16:31  |  larry from delaware 01/03/09
      39.   till "terrror groups understand" 16:37  |  Baruch Gold 01/03/09
      40.   #2-Natalie-Learning the Lesson 16:40  |  Yitz 01/03/09
      41.   Olmert: Operation Cast Lead Mark II. 16:41  |  Akram Zekaria 01/03/09
      42.   Natalie Durson # 2 16:42  |  Arnold 01/03/09
      43.   gaza 16:42  |  mo 01/03/09
      44.   1648 16:43  |  tcmsols 01/03/09
      45.   No Response=More Rockets 16:44  |  Ron 01/03/09
      46.   less vows more action 17:06  |  peter 01/03/09
      47.   get it right Israel- 17:07  |  Jerry 01/03/09
      48.   Joseph.E 17:39  |  Joan 01/03/09
      49.   Baruch Gold 17:45  |  Joan 01/03/09
      50.   Seal the border crossings from Israel/Egypt into Gaza and sink 17:47  |  Murray of Montreal 01/03/09
      51.   Qassam strikes near Ashkelon beach, after Olmert vows `painful` r 17:57  |  Joshua 01/03/09
      52.   Your responses. 17:59  |  Joan 01/03/09
      53.   Israel is promoting the cycle of violence not the cycle of calm 18:03  |  Dutch 01/03/09
      54.   I urge all states to recall their diplomatic staff...... 18:25  |  Dutch 01/03/09
      55.   Olmert and West wait for Pal Unity, in other words... 18:35  |  Avi 01/03/09
      56.   Olmerts painful response: Letting it happen again and again 18:37  |  Avi 01/03/09
      57.   Joan in Ireland 18:40  |  ChanahS 01/03/09
      58.   rockets 18:41  |  Recher 01/03/09
      59.   Olmert, shut up and go home already 18:44  |  chaim schonbrun 01/03/09
      60.   rockets 18:48  |  Recher 01/03/09
      61.   Replace ?peace? with strength and determination. 18:53  |  Jean Van Daem 01/03/09
      62.   Wow,Durson has found a new wording against Israel 18:59  |  Meo 01/03/09
      63.   #21 Joan is mistaken 19:06  |  Baruch Gold 01/03/09
      64.   Once Olmert is Gone The Gloves Come OFF 19:07  |  Baruch Gold 01/03/09
      65.   Olmert Who?? 19:17  |  Lynn 01/03/09
      66.   #26 Dutch 19:17  |  H 01/03/09
      67.   48 20:06  |  Joan 01/03/09
      68.   Nathalie 20:07  |  utagawa 01/03/09
      69.   #58 20:14  |  Joan 01/03/09
      70.   Joan 20:14  |  Angus 01/03/09
      71.   Another Olmert Pledge ..... 20:43  |  Gary 01/03/09
      72.   48 20:51  |  Joan 01/03/09
      73.   The only solution to Qassams 21:45  |  Dude 01/03/09
      74.   #18 - mike 22:27  |  MichaelF 01/03/09
      75.   #2 - Natallie Durson 22:29  |  MichaelF 01/03/09
      76.   Hamas Supporter -Joan 22:33  |  Joshua 01/03/09
      77.   EU and others; don`t waste your money on Gaza! 22:41  |  Giora 01/03/09
      78.   Not much of a "stiff blow" if you ask me 22:44  |  Michael Zibberman 01/03/09
      79.   #44, Baruch Gold/Tod Zuckerman...gruesometwosome 23:10  |  Silvienne 01/03/09
      80.   #63, Joan.... 23:14  |  Silvienne 01/03/09
      81.   Joan-israel stopped the suicide bombers 23:33  |  Dr. Venom 01/03/09
      82.   #46 Right On Joshua. I predict that on the last day of Olmert 23:51  |  Israeli Observer 01/03/09
      83.   #66 Joshua 00:08  |  Joan 02/03/09
      84.   A question for Dutch 00:09  |  Arnold 02/03/09
      85.   #66 Joshua 00:12  |  Joan 02/03/09
      86.   Joan....I haven`t heard suicide bombing 01:23  |  Maria 02/03/09
      87.   Maria 01:58  |  Joan 02/03/09
      88.   the only painful response felt is by sderot residents 02:04  |  thou shalt not vow 02/03/09
      89.   Seven Qassams hit Negev; Olmert vows `painful` response 02:15  |  Robert Nickisson 02/03/09
      90.   #76, Joshua - terrorist supporter 18:22  |  Silvienne 02/03/09
      91.   #87, Maria..."going on with their lives..." 18:26  |  Silvienne 02/03/09
      92.   A lousy poker player? 23:30  |  ReporterAtTheScene 02/03/09
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