Rocket Fired at Israel; Barak Closes Crossings to Gaza
Media Line News Agency
October 29, 2008
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the temporary closure of the border crossings to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night, following the firing of a rocket into Israel. The rocket, fired from the northern Gaza Strip, fell in a field south of Ashqelon and caused no damage.
The newly formed Palestinian organization Hizbullah-Palestine took responsibility for the attack. In the past few months, since Israel and Hamas reached an indirect calm agreement, very few rockets have been fired into Israel. Nevertheless, the relative quite does not represent the reality on the ground, head of the Hof Ashqelon Local Council Ya'ir Farjoun told the Israeli news site Ynet.
"As far as we are concerned, as long as [abducted soldier] Gilad Shalit is in Gaza, someone will always try to shoot Qassams [rockets] in an attempt to thwart the negotiation for his release," said Farjoun.
Last Sunday, hundreds of Israelis held a rally near the Gaza Strip, calling on the Israeli government to hasten its indirect talks with Hamas and the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) to release Shalit.
Yesterday, a PRC spokesman said Israel was thwarting the deal by not accepting their demands for the release of hundreds of prisoners. A Kuwaiti newspaper reported earlier this week that Israel had decided to abort the talks and attempt releasing Shalit by force.
The newly formed Palestinian organization Hizbullah-Palestine took responsibility for the attack. In the past few months, since Israel and Hamas reached an indirect calm agreement, very few rockets have been fired into Israel. Nevertheless, the relative quite does not represent the reality on the ground, head of the Hof Ashqelon Local Council Ya'ir Farjoun told the Israeli news site Ynet.
"As far as we are concerned, as long as [abducted soldier] Gilad Shalit is in Gaza, someone will always try to shoot Qassams [rockets] in an attempt to thwart the negotiation for his release," said Farjoun.
Last Sunday, hundreds of Israelis held a rally near the Gaza Strip, calling on the Israeli government to hasten its indirect talks with Hamas and the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) to release Shalit.
Yesterday, a PRC spokesman said Israel was thwarting the deal by not accepting their demands for the release of hundreds of prisoners. A Kuwaiti newspaper reported earlier this week that Israel had decided to abort the talks and attempt releasing Shalit by force.