Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 11, 2007

Israeli Forces Launch Gaza Offensive, 4 Militants Killed
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A8B414:5F753BCA39991A3B24FE7F8D6583AA80F47489ACC27D21EE& Violence casting
shadow over efforts to revive peace process At least four Palestinians
have been killed in an Israeli ground incursion into the Gaza Strip.
As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, the violence is
casting a shadow over efforts to revive the peace process.

Israeli tanks pounded Palestinian militant positions as they rolled
across the border into southern Gaza Tuesday. The incursion sparked
clashes with militants armed with assault rifles, rocket propelled
grenades and landmines.

Israeli aircraft also fired on militants in northern Gaza.

The army said the raids are aimed at halting Palestinian rocket
attacks that have terrorized Israeli border communities.

"Israel's position is clear," said Israeli spokesman Mark Regev. "The
current situation is intolerable and we will act to defend our
people."

It was the biggest Israeli ground incursion since the Islamic militant
group Hamas seized control of Gaza in June, routing the Fatah forces
of western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.







Palestinians carry a seriously wounded man to hospital during an
Israeli army raid in Khan Younis, 11 Dec 2007The fighting came a day
before Israel and Mr. Abbas's Palestinian Authority in the West Bank
are to resume formal peace talks after a seven-year break. The
negotiations were agreed upon at the Annapolis peace conference in the
United States two weeks ago.

The radical Islamic Jihad group, which suffered casualties in the Gaza
fighting, said the Israeli ground assault is the fruit of Annapolis.

Islamic Jihad spokesman Daoud Shihab said Israeli aggression is proof
that Annapolis was a failure. Both Islamic Jihad and Hamas refuse to
renounce violence and oppose peace talks with Israel.

Palestinian officials in the West Bank also condemned the Israeli
incursion. They accuse Israel of sabotaging peace talks even before
they begin.


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