Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that Hamas' violation of the five-month-old Gaza Strip cease-fire was an exception and would not be repeated, calling on Israel to show restraint in order to avoid a security deterioration.

"The violation of the truce is an exceptional event that will not last," said Abbas at a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Rome.

"I take this opportunity to appeal to Israel to show the necessary self-control so that this will not happen again."

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Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets at southern Israel on Tuesday in what the army said was part of an attempt by Hamas to kidnap an Israel Defense Forces soldier.

Hamas militants claimed responsibility for rocket fire for the first time since the Gaza Strip cease-fire took effect.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz on Tuesday warned the PA against continued attacks on Israel, saying the "Palestinian unity government will not provide any [Palestinian official] with immunity."

Peretz met Tuesday afternoon with IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, as well as GOC Southern Command and the head of Military Intelligence, in order to discuss the escalation along the Gaza Strip.

A senior defense official said Israel views Hamas' attempted abduction severely, and will act against all those involved "in the right way and time, in any place and without any compromise."

Earlier Tuesday, political and military sources said that the IDF will opt for a limited response to the rocket fire. They added that the cabinet is not expected to hold a special meeting on the escalation.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will however be briefed on the situation in a meeting that is expected to be held Wednesday morning.

Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio that he is opposes a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip as well as a reoccupation of the Philadelphi Route, which runs along the border with Egypt.

Government Minister Rafi Eitan said, however, that Israel would be justified in not only reoccupying the Philadelphi Route, but also strategic areas used for the firing of rockets.

Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Liberman said the attacks prove that Israel's restraint is being perceived as weakness.

Israel will file an official protest of the rocket fire during a special United Nations Security Council session on the situation in the area.

Israel will tell the UN it views Hamas' involvement in attacks with utmost severity, especially given that it is part of the Palestinian government. Israel will also warn the international community of the possibility of further deterioration in the security situation.

IDF: Rocket barrage was diversionary tactic
IDF officials said the intense barrage of mortars and rockets launched at Israel on Tuesday morning was a diversionary tactic meant to provide covering fire for an infiltration aimed at kidnapping soldiers.

Senior army officials said that security preparations by the Southern Command along the border with the Gaza Strip prevented Hamas from capturing an additional IDF soldier.

Immediately after the first salvo of rockets and mortars was launched, Israel Air Force helicopter gunships attacked Qassam and mortar launching crews along the border with the Gaza Strip.

On several occasions in recent weeks, senior Hamas officials have threatened to kidnap additional IDF soldiers if there is no progress in negotiations over the release of Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

The attack Tuesday morning is the first time in five months that the military wing of Hamas has claimed responsibility for a Qassam attack on Israel. The group said the strikes were revenge for IDF operations over the weekend, in which nine Palestinians were killed.

Hamas military wing sources said in a statement that the group's militants launched 40 rockets and 70 mortar shells from the Gaza Strip "in reaction to the continued Zionist crimes against our people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip."

The IDF confirmed that tens of Qassams and mortar shells were fired at Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip early Tuesday morning.

There were no reports of casualties, but minor damage was caused to some agricultural structures in the western Negev.

Hamas, which won a parliamentary election last year, had agreed to a cease-fire in November, but had warned it would respond to killings of Palestinians.

The group called Sunday for new attacks on Israel after the nine Palestinians, including five militants, were killed by IDF troops in a 24-hour surge of violence.

Hamas said its rockets were fired from central and south Gaza, but later said more were launched from the north and that they targeted IDF bases and communities.

Also in Gaza, an angry clan stormed the parliament building on Tuesday, carrying the body of a slain family member, to demand the killers be brought to justice.

Egypt: Rocket attacks give Israel excuse to attack
Egypt on Tuesday condemned IDF forces for the killing of the nine Palestinians and also called on the Palestinians to refrain from firing rockets into Israel, saying that would give the Israel "an excuse" to attack.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit "called on the Palestinian side not to do anything that the enemies of peace ... could exploit, such as the firing of rockets, which leads to giving the Israeli side an excuse for aggressive actions against the Palestinian people," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Aboul Gheit criticized what he said was an Israeli escalation, coming as it did shortly after a summit in Riyadh relaunched an Arab peace initiative aimed at normalizing relations with Israel in exchange for a return to the pre-1967 boundaries.

"All the Arabs are reaching out for peace with Israel," the statement cited Aboul Gheit as saying.

Aboul Gheit called on Israelis and Palestinians to share responsibility to avoid further escalations and called for an immediate end to Israeli incursions.

He also called on the Quartet peace mediators to press Israel to take steps towards a "credible" peace process, ultimately leading to the creation of a Palestinian state.

IDF sappers detonate 20kg explosive device near Nablus
Late Monday night IDF troops discovered a 20kg explosive device in a village near Jenin. IDF sappers were summoned to the scene and detonated the explosives in a controlled blast. Also Monday night, IDF forces arrested 6 wanted men in the West Bank, including 5 members of the Hebron wing of Islamic Jihad.

Security forces were put on high alert for Remembrance Day and Independence Day.

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