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Sderot residents inspecting the damage to their home after it was hit by a Qassam rocket on Wednesday. (AP)
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Two wounded by rockets in Sderot; IAF targets Hamas in Gaza
PM approves 'severe and harsh' response to Qassam rocket fire
By Aluf Benn, Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approved Wednesday a "severe and harsh" response to the ongoing Qassam rocket fire, including the resumption of targeted killings of Hamas commanders in the Gaza Strip.

"Israel cannot continue to show restraint in the face of the harm to its citizens," said Olmert.

"The Hamas government is behind the terrorist activity," continued Olmert. "Its unacceptable that at the same time it is requesting international recognition and financial assistance."
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The decision came as Palestinian militants continued their rocket barrage on the western Negev on Wednesday, firing some 30 rockets at the area, wounding two people.

Also Wednesday, five Hamas militants were killed in two separate Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.

Olmert held security consultations with the participation of Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Asheknazi, and other senior military and defense officials.

The Prime Minister's Office said the ministers approved "a series of actions to target the those who launch rockets and their commanders, to thwart their ability to fire [rockets] and to damage the terrorist infrastructure."

"Israel will take severe and decisive measures to put an end to these attacks and will allow the residents of Sderot and southern communities to live in peace," said David Baker, an official in the PMO.

This was the first time that Livni took part in security consultations, and the foreign minister's participation is a direct result of the Winograd Committee's recommendations in the wake of the Second Lebanon War.

Livni reported during the deliberations that the Foreign Ministry is engaged in an intensive diplomatic effort aimed at explaining Israel's stance and gaining international legitimacy for its response.

"The situation is unacceptable from Israel's standpoint," said Livni. "This is a terrorist organization that is part of the Palestinian government. We have made it clear to the international community that the situation in Sderot cannot continue."

"Until now Israel has shown restraint, but a situation in which without any reason, because of an internal Palestinian matter, they decide to harm Sderot in such a way, is unacceptable," she continued. "Nonetheless, we must understand there is no magic solution and we have to act in accordance with the circumstances that emerge."

Woman moderately to seriously wounded by Qassam, man lightly hurt
A 60-year-old woman was moderately to seriously wounded and a man lightly hurt Wednesday when a Qassam rocket hit a house in Sderot.

The woman, who was wounded by shrapnel, was evacuated to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. Four other people were treated for shock.

The rocket hit a residential complex, causing damage to much of the buildings. The complex is home to the family of Yaakov Yaakobov, who was killed by a Qassam rocket in November of last year.

On Wednesday evening, a rocket struck Sderot and knocked out power throughout the entire town.

Also Wednesday, the Israel Air Force fired missiles into a Hamas operations headquarters in the southern Gaza town of Rafah. Palestinian officials said four Hamas gunmen were killed in the attack, and at least 20 were wounded.

IDF sources confirmed that the attack came as a response to the continued firing of Qassam rockets over the past days on the western Negev. "Hamas must know that there is a price to be paid for launching rockets at Sderot and the surrounding area," the sources said.

Later in the day, the IAF fired missiles at a car carrying Hamas militants in northern Gaza. Palestinians sources said one militant was killed and two other Palestinians were wounded.

The IDF confirmed the airstrike, saying it targeted a Palestinian rocket crew that had just launched rockets at Israel.

One of the Qassams landed near a kibbutz in the Ashkelon Coast regional council, while two others fell north of Sderot. On Tuesday, a woman was seriously injured and some 30 others moderately to lightly wounded in the attacks.

On Wednesday afternoon, two Qassam rockets hit open areas in the western Negev, causing no damage or injuries.

A Qassam rocket also struck a home next to the Sderot residence of Defense Minister Amir Peretz early on Wednesday, causing damage but no injuries.

Peretz was not at home at the time of the attack, part of a barrage of Palestinian rockets that also hit a basketball court in the town Wednesday morning.

The defense minister blamed Hamas for the attack, maintaining they are "trying to cover up the murderous act of their men against Fatah militants."

Peretz, who was touring an IDF exercise in the north, called the rocket firing "intolerable and will reap a response." He reiterated that "Israel has no intention to intervene with the internal clashes in [Gaza] Strip, but we are not going to tolerate that these clashes will impact the security of Israeli residents; these events will reap a suitable response."

IAF helicopters attacked in response to the rocket barrage open fields in the northern Gaza Strip where Qassam rockets are suspected to be launched from.

Dozens of Sderot residents on Wednesday crammed into buses, provided by Russian-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak, seeking refuge from the battered town. The residents will stay in a Be'er Sheva hotel courtesy of Gaydamak.

The prime minister, however, criticized the evacuation of Sderot residents, saying "these are exactly the pictures that Hamas is waiting for, and I will not grant any victory to terrorism."

Following the security consultations, Olmert instructed the relevant government agencies and organizations to take the necessary steps to provide the area's residents with the assistance they require.

The prime minister also called Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal and expressed his solidarity with the town's residents.

As a result of the barrage, the public bomb shelters in Sderot were opened for the first time on Tuesday, and classes will be canceled Wednesday for the second straight day.

Hamas openly claimed credit for the strikes and announced it plans to continue them
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  1.   Hitting back hard 03:00  |  Bob USA 16/05/07
  2.   Rockets 03:10  |  Edifice 16/05/07
  3.   ONLY ONE QUESTION 03:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/05/07
  4.   Refraining 03:26  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 16/05/07
  5.   Olmert still there! JUDENR_T 03:53  |  Charles Martel 16/05/07
  6.   Thank You Sir, May I Have Another? 04:44  |  Born In The USA 16/05/07
  7.   Teenage Mentalities 04:47  |  Tony Anthony 16/05/07
  8.   #2 is right, and what a shame to admit to have to admit this 05:06  |  Gary A., MD 16/05/07
  9.   for every Qassam one hour of no water and electricity 05:07  |  David G 16/05/07
  10.   Who is responsible for the Qassams 05:13  |  Ronnie Wolman 16/05/07
  11.   1948 or 1967 again ? 05:19  |  Sal 16/05/07
  12.   No Poop, Sherlocks 05:24  |  Dyinglikeflies 16/05/07
  13.   100,000 05:29  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 16/05/07
  14.   qassam 05:32  |  dd 16/05/07
  15.   Foolish Israeli Gov`t! 05:32  |  loofkcilc 16/05/07
  16.   Anti-Israel talkbackers! 05:36  |  loofkcilc 16/05/07
  17.   Response to Qassams 05:45  |  Otto Rand 16/05/07
  18.   Ever noticed 05:49  |  Adrian de Klerk 16/05/07
  19.   How many Israelis must die before a meaningful reaction is 05:54  |  Deuel 16/05/07
  20.   sderot only a sample 06:01  |  chaim schonbrun 16/05/07
  21.   ISRAEL IS BANKRUPT! Everyone go home.... 06:12  |  Jew 16/05/07
  22.   Haniyah 06:27  |  Sanders 16/05/07
  23.   TURN OFF THE ELECTRICITY...SHUT OFF WATER 06:32  |  REal vision 16/05/07
  24.   It is so hard for people in Sderot to sit quietly 06:37  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/05/07
  25.   Lebanon 2000 all over again 06:50  |  Dan 16/05/07
  26.   It is a Mossad conspiracy 06:52  |  Clickfool 16/05/07
  27.   The absolute minimum response should be... 07:04  |  Dr. L. Brnd 16/05/07
  28.   David G 07:36  |  Robert 16/05/07
  29.   #17 Clickfool 08:01  |  CuttheBS 16/05/07
  30.   Destroy Gaza now, leave nothing standing. 08:14  |  Avraham 16/05/07
  31.   Olmert & Peretz - Israeli clones of Neville Chamberlain 08:32  |  * BEN JABO 16/05/07
  32.   clickmoron 08:54  |  fred 16/05/07
  33.   17¤ 09:07  |  Magnus Kragset 16/05/07
  34.   "Situation culd have been much worse"-Judenrat and the State Depa 09:11  |  Absolute Sweden 16/05/07
  35.   All others##### 09:12  |  Magnus Kragset 16/05/07
  36.   The Latest Killing Spree 09:20  |  Clickfool 16/05/07
  37.   GAZA STRIP VIOLENCE 09:37  |  JACK 16/05/07
  38.   PDF 09:48  |  Dav 16/05/07
  39.   I think it is time to think of having Egypt take over 09:52  |  Taysir Khouri 16/05/07
  40.   OLMERT&PERETZ SHOULD BE SUED!!!!! 10:01  |  The Prophet 16/05/07
  41.   Killing field 10:02  |  Dav 16/05/07
  42.   Haaretz staff:Serious injury= no injuries? 10:04  |  sam 16/05/07
  43.   Clickfool.Why don`t you this time just shutup-- 10:13  |  Don Saliman 16/05/07
  44.   ISRAEL BREAKS ALL WORLD RECORDS 10:13  |  Dav 16/05/07
  45.   FOOL Hamas avenging Fatah "`activists"?.You outdo yourself -- 10:24  |  PETER SM 16/05/07
  46.   Taysir, ya ahi, you are right, 10:37  |  Fawaz 16/05/07
  47.   Olmert and Peretz won`t allow artillery fire at rocket sites 11:16  |  Seth 16/05/07
  48.   Taysir, Fawaz, I hope more of us Palestinians would say the 11:31  |  Khalid 16/05/07
  49.   hahaha too funny 11:32  |  harold 16/05/07
  50.   # 26 Clickfool, Stay on point... 11:33  |  Dutch 16/05/07
  51.   terror 11:53  |  pat 16/05/07
  52.   Israels hands are tied 11:53  |  Natallie Durson 16/05/07
  53.   Olmert, Livni, Peretz: "We have changed the reality..." 12:19  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 16/05/07
  54.   Mossad conspiracy #26/36. Racist inferences? 12:22  |  Zardos 16/05/07
  55.   If we don`t want to become another Somalia, we, Palestinians, 12:35  |  Leilah 16/05/07
  56.   I am a Palestinian from Majdal, now inside Israel, 13:04  |  Muhammed 16/05/07
  57.   #36, Clickfool 13:54  |  Fritz 16/05/07
  58.   Pat and all other conspiracy theorists 14:19  |  ChanahS 16/05/07
  59.   Despicable Refusal to Protect Jews is CONSENT to TERROR 14:24  |  Linda Rivera 16/05/07
  60.   Democracy and the Arabs 14:50  |  Danite 16/05/07
  61.   # 36, What you say is bordering on blood libel, and coming from a 15:03  |  Jehudah 16/05/07
  62.   I am glad my Itnatkut was a success 15:05  |  Corrupt Fat Bastard 16/05/07
  63.   Muhammed - No Arab wants to help you 15:09  |  Ariel 16/05/07
  64.   Ibrahim 15:19  |  Danite 16/05/07
  65.   FOR EVERY QASSAM DESTROY A HAMAS STRUCTURE IN GAZA! 15:23  |  naro 16/05/07
  66.   Rocket Science 15:30  |  Ronnie Wolman 16/05/07
  67.   Hamas rockets will cause civil war against Fatah with Israels hel 15:30  |  The Equalizer 16/05/07
  68.   Israel will be destroyed by Olmert & Peretz. Israelis move to USA 15:41  |  Gary A., MD 16/05/07
  69.   The FOOL being Faked#36 15:43  |  Star of David 16/05/07
  70.   Gaidamak is taking care again 15:46  |  Gene 16/05/07
  71.   Famas: A Palestinian Poodle 15:55  |  Star of David 16/05/07
  72.   What`s The Matter With Olmert And Peretz? 15:57  |  Jeff Northridge 16/05/07
  73.   kassam 16:14  |  jamal 16/05/07
  74.   enough is enough 16:23  |  baracuda 16/05/07
  75.   to clickfool 16:30  |  Danalogue 16/05/07
  76.   hitting back 16:43  |  Dik 16/05/07
  77.   GAZA SOLUTION 16:43  |  Abu Yusuf 16/05/07
  78.   clickfool and conspiracy theories 16:44  |  SHIMON 16/05/07