Israel Shells Gaza Following School Bus Strike
VOA News April 07, 2011
Israeli troops have shelled targets in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, after suspected Gaza militants fired a projectile that hit a school bus in southern Israel, wounding two people.
Palestinian medics say the Israeli retaliation shelling killed an elderly man and wounded at least three others on Thursday.
The incident took place shortly after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered defense forces to carry out a swift response, in the wake of the bus strike.
Earlier Thursday, the Israeli military announced it had carried out several overnight airstrikes in Gaza, targeting smuggling tunnels near the border with Egypt. Palestinian medical sources said at least one person was wounded.
Over the past few weeks back and forth attacks have occurred along Israel's border with Gaza.
The incidents have raised tensions at a time when peace talks between Israel and Palestinians have stalled, due to Palestinian objections to continued Jewish settlement building. Palestinians oppose construction on land they want as part of a future state.
Meanwhile, the World Bank says the Palestinian Authority is well positioned to establish an independent state, but that Israeli restrictions are stifling prospects for sustained economic growth.
In a report published Thursday, the bank praised Palestinians' progress in delivering public services and institution-building.
The World Bank also expressed concern about the staggering 37.4 percent unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip.
Separately, Palestinians say Israeli security forces raided the West Bank village of Awarta early Thursday and arrested more than 100 women.
Palestinians say the women were those detained as security force officers carried out house-to-house raids in search of those responsible for killing a Jewish couple and their three children in March.
Some information for this report was provided by AP..
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