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Reports: Gaza Rocket Sends Netanyahu to Shelter During Rally

Reuters

   ASHKELON, ISRAEL - A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip at a southern
   Israeli city on Wednesday as it hosted a campaign rally by Prime
   Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prompted him to take shelter briefly before
   resuming the event, Israeli TV stations reported.

   The Israeli military confirmed the launch against Ashkelon, which is 12
   km (7.5 miles) from the coastal Palestinian enclave, and said the
   rocket was shot down by an Iron Dome air defenseinterceptor.

   There was no immediate claim of responsibility in Gaza,which is under
   the control of Hamas Islamists and where a smaller armed faction,
   Islamic Jihad, exchanged fire with Israel during a two-day surge of
   violence last month.

   Israeli TV stations showed Netanyahu, who is campaigning tokeep the
   helm of the conservative Likud party in an internalelection on
   Thursday, being escorted off a stage by bodyguards.

   The reports said he was taken to a shelter after sirens sounded.

   It was the second such incidentfor Netanyahu. HisSeptember appearancein
   the nearby town of Ashdod was briefly disruptedby a rocket siren.

   Assassination

   Israel sparked the November fighting in Gaza byassassinating Baha Abu
   Al-Atta, an Islamic Jihadcommander itaccused of ordering the launch
   against Ashdod.

   "He[Al-Atta]is no longer around," a video circulated onsocial media
   showed a smiling Netanyahu saying after he retookthe stage in Ashkelon,
   to cheers from onlookers.

   In a veiled threat to retaliate for Wednesday's attack, he
   added: "Whoever tried to make an impression just now should packhis
   bags."

   While Netanyahu is widely expected to retain Likud'sleadership, he
   faces a tough battle ahead of a March generalelection in Israel--its
   third in a year, after he and hiscentrist rival Benny Gantz failed to
   secure majorities in twoprevious ballots. Netanyahu's standing has been
   dented by anindictment on corruption charges that he denies.

   Netanyahu's failure to stem attacks from Gaza has been
   invoked by his political rivals.

   "The situation in which Israeli citizens live at the mercyof terrorists
   and the prime minister of Israel is unable to tourparts of his country
   is a badge of shame on the security policyin the south--and a loss of
   deterrence that no sovereigncountry can accept," Gantz, a former
   military chief, said in astatement Wednesday.

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