Qassam rockets on Sderot and the Negev

Three Qassam rockets were launched this evening by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. One landed in a residential area in the southern city of Sderot, injuring one man. A second one landed in a kibutz and caused damage to several houses. The third landed in open area and did not cause injury or damage.

This barrage was preceded by a single rocket which was launched this morning and two yesterday, both of which landed in Sderot, causing several slight injuries.

The rate of rocket launches has increased recently as the situation within the Palestinian Authority deteriorated and many believe that it is an attempt to draw a response from Israel that would cause Fatah and Hamas to set aside their differences. So far, Israel has refrained from responding to these breaches of the ceasefire, though the number of political and military voices which call for a response is increasing.

The Jewish terrorist of Shiloh hanged himself

Asher Weizgan, who murdered 4 Palestinians after Israel's withdrawl from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005, hanged himself in his jail cell with his Tfilin (a jewish religious garment).

Weizgan was sentenced to 4 life sentences and an additional 12 years for maiming a fifth Palestinian. He was imprisoned in the Ayalon prison in a religious section.

Weizgan, dubbed, the Jewish Terrorist of Shiloh (a settlement in the West Bank) murdered 4 Palestinians in protest over Israel's withdrawl from the Gaza Strip.

Abdullah warns that the time for peace is now or never

Jordan's king Abdullah, on a visit to Japan, spoke about the stagnating peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Abdullah expressed a sombre view on the political arena and said that 2007 may prove to be the critical year and that if peace is not achieved within the next 6 months it may never happen.
Abdullah said that already the chance for peace has diminished and that may soon it will be safe to say that the Palestinians have no future. The results will be disastrous for the entire region including Israel.
Abdullah called upon the international community to inspire hope in the Palestinians and to prove to both them and Israel that the two states solution is the only viable way out of the present cycle of violence.

Olmert and Abu Mazen are to meet soon

Olmert and Abu Mazen may meet with each pther soon, even as early as this Monday, so says the Maan news agency. The two have been exchanging invitations back and forth for weeks now, but still no meeting has been scheduled. Sources close to Abu Mazen confirmed that such a meeting is imminent but refused to state the date in which it is to take place.
It seems that Olmert's and Abu Mazen's seperate meetings with Jordan's king Adbullah may have facilitated the meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian leader.
The two are to discuss the resumption of the peace process, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the issue of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, and the continued rocket launches out of Gaza into the Israeli Negev.
Abu Mazen has recently called for early elections (though did not set a date) which prompted severe repudiation by the Hamas government.

A fragile quiet in Gaza

The calm in the Palestinian Authority is not holding up. A civilian was killed in Gaza and the bodyguard of Hamas appointed FM Mahmoud al-Zahar was kidnapped by Fatah operatives.

This is but another of a series of kidnappings in the conflict between Hamas and Fatah over who will control the Palestinian Authority.

It is estimated that the ceasefire between Hamas and Fatah will not last as Hamas is furious with President Abu Mazen due to several measures taken by him, such as refusing to approve certain appointments made by the Hamas government and his intention to call for early elections. Hamas has also annunced that it will not attend any meeting regarding the establishment of a national unity government.