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Last update - 12:32 29/06/2008 Israel reopens Gaza crossings after closures over Qassams By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Gaza crossings, Jihad, Hamas  Israel reopened its border crossings with the Gaza Strip on Sunday to allow a trickle of goods into the territory, putting a rocky cease-fire back on course after Palestinian rocket fire last week led to a closure of the passages. Defense Minister Ehud Barak has decided to open the border, which were closed last Wednesday after Gaza militants fired three rockets into Israel - the first such attack since the truce went into effect on June 19. More rockets were fired the next day. The decision was made following telephone security consultations between Barak, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and intelligence officials from the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces' sensing equipment picked up the launch of a mortar shell from Gaza late Saturday, the military said, but it was unclear where it hit. No casualties or damage were reported, and no militant group took responsibility. Israeli military liaison official Peter Lerner said the Sufa and Karni commercial crossings, the Nahal Oz fuel transfer depot and the Erez border terminal for travelers resumed operations at 8 A.M. with some restrictions. Under the cease-fire, Israel has pledged to gradually increase the flow of goods into Gaza. Israel had been expected to reopen the crossing on Friday, even after two mortar shells from Gaza hit the western Negev on Friday, exploding in open areas. But at a high-level security meeting late Thursday, Israel decided to keep the crossings shut. Defense officials said a limited amount of fuel would be transferred into the Strip despite the closure. The Egyptian-mediated cease-fire went into effect a week ago Thursday. UN sources said that since the truce started, Israeli forces fired into the Gaza Strip at least eight times, wounding two people. Palestinians fired rockets and mortar bombs into Israel at least three times, according to the Israeli army. Meanwhile, Hamas minister Mahmoud Zahar said Friday that the ruling group would arrest anyone who tries to break the cease-fire with Israel and would confiscate their weapons whether they are from Hamas or Islamic Jihad. In an interview published in the Saudi daily Al-Watan, Zahar said anyone who overstepped the national consensus and harmed the interests of the Palestinian people was operating not as a resistance group would but as someone who wants to harm the resistance Related articles: Top Hamas official: We'll stop anyone who breaks Gaza truce Egypt: Gaza crossing will remain shut until Shalit deal reached Jihad threatens to continue rocket attacks, despite truce Bookmark to del.icio.us   Wimbledon shocker Shahar Peer knocks out 9th-seed Safina to slide into the fourth round. Time to hit Iran Israel must destroy Iran's nuclear program within one year or risk being attacked.   1.   Palestinian terrorists will use this, terror attack imminent 10:56  |  Johnny 29/06/08   2.   Why open the border?? 11:37  |  Adrian de Klerk 29/06/08   3.   And Shallit still in captivity 11:57  |  Hans 29/06/08   4.   Good idea 13:51  |  Mark Lincoln 29/06/08   5.   Hamas disrupts fuel supplies to Gaza. 15:23  |  Jean van Daem 29/06/08   6.   Open the crossings and next step our stupid 16:14  |  Mary 29/06/08   7.   Another show, that Hamas is the legitimate Government. 16:32  |  John 29/06/08   8.   Gaza managed to get rid of illegal Isareli settlements, when.... 16:40  |  John 29/06/08   9.   Mahmoud Zahar & the various groups... 17:44  |  sandra chitayat 29/06/08   10.   pal terrorists fire rockets at civilians 18:35  |  Arie 29/06/08   11.   Just how much? 18:36  |  Arie 29/06/08   12.   #3 No guts, No balls, No leadership 21:40  |  DesMnsDave 29/06/08   13.   #12 Livni can`t have balls, a spine would be nice 18:43  |  * BEN JABO 30/06/08

Read & React Iran hands down death sentence to 'spy for Israel' Responses: 108 ANALYSIS / Prisoner swap is capitulation to blackmail by terrorists Responses: 55 Olmert: I voted for swap to prevent another Ron Arad Responses: 57 Editorial: Darfur is Israel's problem, too Responses: 36 Hamas worried about rise in support for religious sects Responses: 49 Rosner's Domain Israel's image still under renovation How "respectful" will the 2008 election be? (WTR) Poll: Hezbollah swap - good or bad? Can Israel legally strike Iran with nukes? Is Time's Joe Klein being honest when he criticizes Joe Lieberman? More Headlines 17:20 Olmert: I voted for swap to prevent another Ron Arad 15:31 Iran hands down death sentence to 'Israeli spy' 13:01 'Hezbollah to strike Israel if it doesn't get minefield maps' 16:08 Syrian FM: I wish Syria had Israel's nuclear arsenal 18:03 Gaza reporter: Israeli security officials broke my ribs 14:31 Government to hospitals: Get ready for major earthquake in north 14:48 U.S. Jewish groups face cut-backs over plunging dollar 18:45 Forgotten boy becomes B-G security breach 13:10 ANALYSIS / Prisoner swap is capitulation to blackmail by terrorists 17:38 Hamas: Kuntar deal sets precedent for release of Palestinian terrorists 15:00 Father headbutts Netanya headmistress at end-of-year event 17:01 Labor MK Danny Yatom slams government, resigns from politics 11:26 Robot hospital: Where IDF treats droids wounded in the line of fire 17:49 Burglars break into Cabinet Secretary's home, steal laptop 14:13 Egypt to reopen Rafah border crossing for two days Previous Editions Select Day 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun

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