Palestinian Militants, Israeli Forces Exchange Fire in Gaza
By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
21 December 2008
Israeli-Palestinian violence is escalating in and around the Gaza Strip after the end of a truce.
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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