Sderot to keep 'special status' due to Qassam fire

The cabinet is expected Sunday to maintain the "special situation" status of Sderot and communities bordering the Gaza Strip because of continued Qassam rocket fire.

Under the order, the Israel Defense Forces is involved in managing the communities targeted by Qassams.

A Sderot resident was moderately wounded yesterday when a Qassam struck her house. In response the Israel Defense Forces carried out an attack in the Gaza Strip, saying it had killed three militants who had fired rockets at Sderot.

Meanwhile, Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal rescinded his resignation at Defense Minister Ehud Barak's request.

Barak decided yesterday to ask the cabinet to retain the "special status" order, which expired about a month ago. The renewed order, which will be submitted for approval at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, will be valid until the end of March.

The IDF will continue its limited attacks in Gaza in reaction to the rocket and artillery fire, Barak and defense officials decided yesterday. The attacks will also target Hamas military outposts throughout the strip.

A broader military operation, which the IDF favors, is not on the agenda at present.

Barak hinted this week that he authorized the IDF to strike further into Gaza. As a result, the IDF carried out a relatively large operation in the south of the enclave on Monday, during which soldiers killed five Palestinian militants and entered some two kilometers into the strip.

The negotiations that began after the Annapolis conference have apparently prevented a major military operation, which Israel will carry out only as a last resort.

A defense source said that such an operation could take place if a rocket kills someone in Israel.

A Qassam rocket struck the home of Aliza Amar, 40, in Sderot yesterday afternoon. She was moderately hurt and taken to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. Six others suffered from shock. Amar's husband, Pinhas, said the rocket crashed through the house's roof and landed in the kitchen.

Shortly afterward the air force struck a car driving near Gaza City. The IDF reported that the passengers were members of the cell that had fired the rocket at Sderot. Three Islamic Jihad activists were killed - Sami Tapash, Imad Yassin and Khalil al-Masara.

Altogether five rockets were fired at the western Negev yesterday. One landed in a citrus grove in the Shaar Hanegev regional council, but no one was hurt. The IDF reported that since last Thursday Israeli troops killed 13 armed Palestinians who were involved in rocket and artillery fire or who tried to enter Israel.

In the next few days defense chiefs will sign contracts for developing an anti-missile shield to protect Negev residents from Qassam rockets. It will be one and a half to two years before the system, produced by defense company Rafael, will be operational.

Defense Ministry experts have raised doubts about the system's effectiveness.

Sderot Mayor Moyal rescinded his resignation after meeting with Defense Minister Barak. He said his resignation was the result of emotional pressure.

"At a time like this the commitment and responsibility to Sderot's residents overcomes any other consideration," Barak told Moyal at the meeting. He said the resignation could be seen by Hamas as a victory and that replacing him at this time would not be possible.

He also promised him that the defense establishment would try 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 to stay, for me that's like being called to reserve duty."