Woman Killed As Rockets Hit Israeli Towns

First Deadly Rocket Attack In Year From Gaza Strikes Northern Town Of Sderot

(CBS/AP) 
Several weeks ago, Olmert spoke of plans to broaden Israel's military strikes against rocket squads, but no large-scale offensive was mounted.

On Wednesday, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter told Army Radio that Israel must expand its operations to bring about "a complete halt" to rocket fire, "whether that means a ground operation, or an air operation or other special operations."

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the Palestinians acted in self-defense.

"The occupation hasn't stopped attacking Palestinians before or after Beit Hanoun, so we say resistance is a right of Palestinians," Barhoum said.

The rocket fire coincided with Palestinian efforts to form a new unity government that might be moderate enough to induce the West to ease crippling economic sanctions.

Hamas insisted Tuesday it wouldn't recognize Israel even after a new government takes power, but suggested the emerging coalition would be free to stake out a more moderate position.

A months-long deadlock over whether the new government would recognize Israel is to be solved by a division of labor: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah Party and his Palestine Liberation Organization would lead peace talks with Israel, while the government of experts would run daily life in the Palestinian territories.

Abbas, a moderate elected separately last year, hopes Israel and the West will accept the premise that Hamas is largely ceding power by making room for a 24-member Cabinet of independent professionals.

But the Islamic militants would get to appoint nine of the ministers and retain considerable control — without abandoning their violent ideology. So it's not clear the new setup will be enough to prod Israel and the West to restore hundreds of millions of dollars cut off to pressure Hamas to moderate.

Abbas met in Cairo on Wednesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss the coalition talks and the potential for renewed peacemaking. Mubarak told Abbas that Palestinians should "speak in one voice" and express "positions that advance the peace process and end Palestinian suffering."

Later in the day, envoys of the so-called "Quartet" of Mideast mediators — the U.S., the U.N., the EU and Russia — also met in Cairo to discuss the new momentum. It was their first gathering since Hamas took power in March.

An agreement on a new Palestinian government would be closely linked to a Hamas-Israel prisoner swap and a promise by Gaza militants to halt rocket attacks on Israel.

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman is to try to conclude an exchange in a visit to the Palestinian territories, starting Saturday.

Abbas has promised Hamas he would not present the new government to parliament for approval until Hamas politicians imprisoned in Israel have been released.

Such a deal could pave the way for a long-overdue meeting between Abbas and Olmert. Abbas has been reluctant to meet while the Israeli soldier is in captivity, for fear Olmert would only discuss the serviceman's fate.

[deero221]

Actually, add the majority of the American people to the previous comment. '67 was when this occupation started; over 35 years. Thats a long time to deal with constant harassment by an occupying force.

[deero221]

Where is the word "occupation" in this entire ordeal? Does everyone in the American news media fail to remember that Isreal is an occupying Palestine illegally? Insanity.

dmorg4 wrote:

"I would like to see them invade and get rid of
this so called "palistinians"Arabs in my book
once and for all."

Thank god everyone isn't as idiotic or ignorant as you are.

The "Palestinians" have every right to be there - and so does Israel.

Both sides have proved that they can live in peace - unfortunately, there are militant idiots on both sides that like to stir up trouble.

Both sides use terror to try and gain the upper hand.

I should also point out that the state of Israel came about because of Jewish terrorists - like the Stern Gang, Haganah and Irgun and other militant groups - that liked to slaughter Arabs and the British.

And they were around long before the Palestinian group Hamas was even thought of.

[olebd]

Okay so, what did Israel do to them now?

Frickin' nuts.

[dmorg4]

I would like to see them invade and get rid of
this so called "palistinians"Arabs in my book
once and for all.

wolf563 wrote:

"Just nuke them and get it over with . They don`t recognize ISRAEL so how can they blame people they don`t recognize ."

Wow - finally proof that neanderthal man really does exist - and can type too!!!

[stranger45-2009]

Wow, if we get an article at each dead in this region, cbs will soon crawl under the mass of his own paper.

Can we get one time a good journalist work explaining this crisis with an objective eye and a good dose of pedagogy, intelligence and hindsight to explain pepole what is occuring rather than explaining how bad is a side or another.

Its not a match FOX vs alJazerra that we need.

Althought the article is somehow composed of apparently objective facs, title or editorial line are completely "one way" .

[wolf563]

Just nuke them and get it over with . They don`t recognize ISRAEL so how can they blame people they don`t recognize .