Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 13, 2008

Rocket Fire Ends Brief Lull in Israeli-Palestinian Fighting
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B8842D:A6F02AD83191E16067C57267A61D67025C6F54A6CF9DC2CA& Islamic Jihad group
fires rockets at Israel in response to undercover attack targeting
Palestinian militants in Bethlehem, Wednesday  A brief lull in
Israeli-Palestinian fighting is over. As Robert Berger reports from
VOA's Jerusalem bureau, a new spike in violence is eroding hopes for a
ceasefire.







Palestinians gather around car that carried four militants killed by
Israeli undercover forces in Bethlehem, 12 Mar 2008The Islamic Jihad
group fired rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip, ending a week-long
lull as Egypt worked to mediate a truce. The rocket fire came in
response to a daring attack by Israeli undercover troops in the West
Bank town of Bethlehem. The troops spotted a car with four wanted
Palestinian militants and killed them in a hail of bullets.

The local commander of the Islamic Jihad was among the dead. Israel
said he was responsible for dozens of attacks on Israeli soldiers and
civilians, including suicide bombings.

The Islamic militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, accused Israel of
torpedoing efforts for a ceasefire.

"My advice, my recommendation to Israeli policy makers [is] to rethink
about the peaceful approach," said Hamas spokesman Ahmed Yousef. "It
is better than this belligerent approach.

But Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the army ambush in
Bethlehem was justified.

Speaking at a military ceremony, Barak said Israel would continue to
pursue and strike at terrorists in Bethlehem, in Gaza and wherever
they are.

The Bethlehem ambush came hours after Hamas Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh set out terms for a truce. He demanded that Israel halt
military activity in all the Palestinian territories and lift its
crippling blockade on Gaza.

But Israel is reluctant. It fears that halting raids in the West Bank
will lead to Palestinian suicide bombings in its cities. And Israel
believes that a truce in Gaza will enable Hamas and other militant
groups to re-arm for the next round of conflict.


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