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The site of a Qassam strike in Sderot on Thursday. (Lior Ashkenazi)
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Last update - 14:58 15/12/2007
Qassam hits Negev factory as gov't declares 'special situation'
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
Tags: IDF, Palestinians, Gaza 

A Qassam rocket struck a western Negev factory Friday, hours after the cabinet declared a "special situation" in Sderot and in other communities bordering the Gaza Strip due to constant Qassam rocket attacks.

The Kibbutz Gevim factory, which operates around the clock, sustained damage to the outer wall facing south. None of the employees who were at the factory at the time of the attack were wounded.

Friday's vote to declare a "special situation" was carried out over the telephone by Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel, and came after Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided Thursday evening to seek government approval for the move.
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Officials from the Defense Ministry said that the decision will have to go before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in order to go into effect, where it will remain until March 2008.

The declaration essentially transfers emergency authority from the state to the army. Therefore, the IDF Southern Command can determine whether or not schools will remain open, and the Home Front can order factories containing dangerous materials to close their doors.

Residents affected by the special situation are eligible to be compensated for damages suffered as a result of the declaration.

Barak's recommendation came a few hours after he convinced Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal to remain in his post, after the latter submitted his resignation the day before, according to sources close to him.

It also followed a Qassam rocket attack that struck the porch of a Sderot house on Thursday. A 40-year-old woman was moderately wounded from the impact of the strike, and taken to the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon for treatment. Two other people suffered from shock.

Moyal announced he would step down after a barrage of at least 17 Qassam rockets struck the western Negev on Wednesday morning. He cited his inability to function as mayor in the difficult security situation as reason for his resignation.

Barak told Moyal that his responsibility and commitment to the people of Sderot takes precedence over every other consideration, and that replacing him at this time would not be possible. He also promised him that the defense establishment would make an effort to find a solution to the Qassam problem.

Before meeting with Barak, the mayor told Haaretz he was debating his next move. "If the Defense Minister tells me 'stay,' then from my end, that's like being called to reserve duty," he said.

In an interview with Israel Radio on Wednesday, Moyal blamed the government for an evasion of responsibility and helplessness against the threat from Gaza, saying he hoped his resignation would encourage a major military operation in the coastal territory.

"I cannot take the responsibility to manage a city that is under attack for seven years," he said. "If 20 children are killed tomorrow from a rocket, I will be asked, 'why did you open the kindergarten?' I have been deliberating matters pertaining to human life for years now, and I cannot continue," he said.

Moyal said later that "this is a decision I have been weighing for many years. A year ago I threatened to quit, and today I have reached a decision. For seven years no one has taken responsibility for what is happening here. It is unreasonable to start the morning with eight Qassams. I am not willing to take this responsibility. I was chosen to manage a city, and not this situation."

Incoming UN envoy denounces Qassam attack

The incoming UN Mideast envoy, Robert Serry, denounced Thursday's rocket attack in unusually strong terms after meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. "Let me be clear about this: We consider that to be terrorist acts," he said.

Earlier Thursday, militants fired three Qassam rockets toward the western Negev. Only one of the rockets was located. No injuries or damages were reported in the incident.


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  • Sderot Mayor takes leave of absence in wake of criminal probe against him
  • Barak: Road to ending Qassams is long but success is possible
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      1.   Work accident: hope their workmen`s compensation is up to date 15:44  |  Jasmine Murphy 13/12/07
      2.   Work accident? 16:37  |  Abe Gold 13/12/07
      3.   Refuah shelaymah 17:20  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 13/12/07
      4.   Targeting civilians... 17:23  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 13/12/07
      5.   Pity Aliza or Dana Olmert weren`t there instead 17:24  |  Absolute Sweden 13/12/07
      6.   Israel should not tolerate Qassams. 17:27  |  Vital 13/12/07
      7.   The Electricity is Still On 17:36  |  Ron 13/12/07
      8.   and the IRC wonders why there is a humaniatarian crisis? 18:05  |  Lynn 13/12/07
      9.   The UN envoy called it an act of terrorism 19:09  |  Steve 13/12/07
      10.   So a direct hit 19:14  |  Peter SM 13/12/07
      11.   #6 - and in other news, night follows day. 19:28  |  Steve 13/12/07
      12.   Just another politician, never does what they say they will do. 19:58  |  Jew 13/12/07
      13.   to swiss Dino (of yesterday), 20:16  |  Judah N. Wenkel 13/12/07
      14.   to "jew" # 12. 20:19  |  Judah N. Wenkel 13/12/07
      15.   #12 What would yew dew, Jew? 20:21  |  Yonatan 13/12/07
      16.   #10, direct hit 22:59  |  czech Man 13/12/07
      17.   Very special 23:32  |  Mark Lincoln 13/12/07
      18.   The UN Envoy call not that as Arabs War Crimes 23:32  |  Joseph E . 13/12/07
      19.   Sderot rockets attacks 23:33  |  mendy 13/12/07
      20.   the sacrificial lamb 23:42  |  Mark 13/12/07
      21.   peter `sm` #10 - s&m, apparently 23:45  |  frenz 13/12/07
      22.   Israel allows rocket shelling 00:00  |  Steve 14/12/07
      23.   Post #15 - Walk in Their Shoes 00:30  |  DoubleClick 14/12/07
      24.   Peter SM #10 00:42  |  Jon 14/12/07
      25.   Silence of Amira Haas and Gideon Levy 00:43  |  GF 14/12/07
      26.   send politicians there 00:54  |  Esteban 14/12/07
      27.   compensated for damages 01:33  |  vik 14/12/07
      28.   Gaza started war with Israel, Israel must finish it 01:37  |  Roland Nilsson 14/12/07
      29.   Roland Nisson 02:03  |  Mark Lincoln 14/12/07
      30.   #10 fake PETER SM 02:11  |  peter 14/12/07
      31.   Take the battlefield to Hamas Jihad doorstep 02:13  |  Jim 14/12/07
      32.   The Crime Syndicate is preparing for an invasion of Gaza! 02:14  |  lakshmi 14/12/07
      33.   Israel has been 02:24  |  Mark Lincoln 14/12/07
      34.   "Constant Qassam Rocket Attacks" vs. Constant Qassam Propaganda 02:52  |  chet 14/12/07
      35.   sderot 03:09  |  joseph 14/12/07
      36.   Head of the Labor Party Barak , 03:22  |  Joseph E . 14/12/07
      37.   FAKE peter Sm is back@10,you sneak QASSEMS KILL 03:55  |  PETER SM 14/12/07
      38.   Special BS Situation 04:10  |  Gilbert 14/12/07
      39.   Barak must go 04:40  |  Frank 14/12/07
      40.   POST 1 FAKE JASMINE MURPHY ALERT!! 05:22  |  Jasmine Murphy 14/12/07
      41.   CHET Qassems are fired daily at Israeli civillians aiming to kill 05:26  |  PETER SM 14/12/07
      42.   LAKSHMI The Crime syndicate already lives in Gaza.Thugs ruling 05:30  |  PETER SM 14/12/07
      43.   No M. Lincoln #17, NO! 06:06  |  dan 14/12/07
      44.   A Man for a Minute 07:32  |  Straight Talk 14/12/07
      45.   Roland Nilsson # 29 07:45  |  Philippe 14/12/07
      46.   Peter SM # 37 07:49  |  Philippe 14/12/07
      47.   Dan # 43 07:51  |  Philippe 14/12/07
      48.   sderot 08:47  |  colin 14/12/07
      49.   Out of depth 09:19  |  Morris Valentine 14/12/07
      50.   For Lakshmi # 32 09:24  |  Clickfool 14/12/07
      51.   Barak the warrior 09:37  |  Terry 14/12/07
      52.   PHILLIPE thanks the fake is admitting he has no standing 09:43  |  PETER SM 14/12/07
      53.   # 4 Arab violence against the Jews has always been condoned. 09:44  |  Terry 14/12/07
      54.   Peter SM, why don`t you move to Sderot and see for yourself 09:48  |  Terry 14/12/07
      55.   Peter SM, my previous post was to #10 fake. 09:54  |  Terry 14/12/07
      56.   When Will We Ever Learn. . . 10:12  |  Yosef ben Shalom 14/12/07
      57.   Let`s just evacuate Sderot 10:52  |  Tov 14/12/07
      58.   A Modest Proposal: Let`s just evaculate Sderot 11:00  |  Tova M. 14/12/07
      59.   to fake Peter SM #10 12:52  |  MR 14/12/07
      60.   to #57 Tov 12:58  |  MR 14/12/07
      61.   #58 Tova M 13:02  |  MR 14/12/07
      62.   Muslims and threats 13:04  |  Cheops 14/12/07
      63.   Clickfool&Morris Valentine,Clickfool,right as usual!Which is why 14:25  |  lakshmi 14/12/07
      64.   and a new special government is required 14:33  |  Avi 14/12/07
      65.   ..contd.Clickfool&Morris Valentine. . land in addition to the 56% 14:33  |  lakshmi 14/12/07
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      67.   Why? 16:45  |  Vital 14/12/07
      68.   Sderot Army Base? Many questions??? 16:51  |  Stephen. 14/12/07
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      74.   #70 Durson 20:15  |  MR 14/12/07
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