As Arab barrage continues, IAF hits Gaza rocket-launchers

[Israel Insider]

Israel Air Force fighter jets attacked a rocket-launching terrorist cell near Gaza City on Sunday following an early morning Kassam attack on the western Negev. An IDF spokesman said pilots hit terrorists as they were placing rockets on launchers in preparation for firing them.

A father flees with his daughter from the scene of a Grad rocket attack in Ashkelon (photo: Flash90)

Four senior members of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) terrorist group’s Salah al-Din Brigades were killed and six people were wounded in the air strike.

PRC spokesman Abu Mujahed confirmed the strike: “The occupation has harmed us and is killing our people, and we realize that the war has been reopened and that the enemy must prepare for a response.”
Palestinian terror group spokesmen have warned that Israeli retaliation would provoke more rocket attacks.

Earlier Sunday, Gaza terrorists had launched a double Kassam rocket attack on the western Negev early Sunday morning, ignoring a warning by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni the night before that Israel would protect its citizens.

The rockets exploded harmlessly in open areas near a kibbutz in the Eshkol Regional Council district.

“There are times when Israel must say, ‘Enough is enough,’ Livni told participants at a conference in Tel Aviv Saturday night. “If Israeli civilians are attacked, Israel will respond in force to protect them,” she said, adding that the government would not tolerate “repeated breaches of the ceasefire.”

In the past 12days, more than 130 mortars, Kassams, and Grad Katyusha rockets have been launched against Israel's southwestern region.

The barrages began after the IDF entered central Gaza to destroy a tunnel dug near the security barrier, likely intended for use by terrorists for an abduction raid. Captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped in such a raid.

After 16 rockets and a mortar shell hit southern Israel on Friday, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with their staffs but reportedly the meeting ended without a decision to act. On the contrary: the Defense Minister said that Israel would consider it a positive sign “if the Gaza factions want to resume the truce.” He warned that should attacks continue, Israel's response would be “harsh and painful.”

[Robert Bernier]

Ashkelon is preparing for war.
The price for intensifying the Israeli pressure on the rocket launching cells is liable to bring Ashkelon into a state of alert and one in which they may have to absorb rocket fire. Such a situation will require activating an early-warning system, and that the people of Ashkelon will have to pay the price for a military offensive in Gaza. Ashkelon is without any doubt ready for this, and is able to deal with it. Victory is needed to prove to the Muslims in general and the Arabs in particular that against their ethos of death stands the ethos of life, protected by the arms of democracies that are resolved to punish them where it hurts most as explained at : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/01/stop-them-with-clear-cut-victory-part-i.html

[Cynthia]

The Palestinians have their priorities. The money used to purchase, fabricate and launch 130 mortars, Kassams, Grad Katyusha rockets at these innocent Israelis could have been used to purchase food and medicine. They prefer the "poor Palestinian" facade while they terrorize Israel.