Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 21, 2008

Palestinian Militants, Israeli Forces Exchange Fire in Gaza
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=211FE22:A6F02AD83191E160959E2941EE0E67A930EB2FA2E66CBB22&
 
On Saturday an Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip killed one
Palestinian militant and wounded at least one other 
Israeli-Palestinian violence is escalating in and around the Gaza Strip
after the end of a truce. Israeli Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu
inspects the damage of a house hit by a rocket, fired by Palestinian
militants from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, 21 Dec 2008

Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza crashed into southern Israel,
shattering the nerves of weary residents. Israel responded with an air
strike against a rocket launcher. Fighting has escalated since Friday
when a six-month ceasefire came to an end. One rocket hit the house of
Maya Eiber in the battered Israeli town of Sderot. "I am going to move
out of this town," said Eiber, who was not hurt. "The government and
army are not protecting us." At the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem,
some ministers called for a major military offensive in Gaza. But Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel should avoid rhetoric and not rush into
war. He said a responsible government is not happy to go to war, but
does not evade it. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the situation in
Gaza cannot continue. Barak said he ordered the army to draw up plans
for how, when and where to respond. Israel is reluctant to invade Gaza,
fearing high casualties among Israeli soldiers and Palestinian
civilians, and in turn, international condemnation. Nevertheless, the
Islamic militant group Hamas that rules Gaza is bracing for retaliation.
Hamas member Razi Hamad told Israel Radio that officials fear being
targeted for assassination. Arab media reports say some Hamas leaders
have gone into hiding. 


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