Palestinian rocket kills 1 Israel

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-16-2006 09:20

On Wednesday, a Palestinian rocket exploded on a street in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, killing one passerby and critically injuring another. A second rocket fired later the same day seriously wounded an Israeli teenager when it hit a street in the same town. The Israeli Defense Minister has warned Palestinian militants that they will pay a heavy price for the attacks.

A homemade rocket hit Sderot, exploding about 150 meters away from the home of Israeli Defense Minister, Amir Peretz. It killed a 57-year-old woman and seriously wounded a 24-year-old man.

Israel has promised a severe response to the rocket attack, even as Palestinian leaders and international envoys pursue diplomatic efforts to restart the stalled peace process.

Amir Peretz, Israeli defense minister said, “We are obliged to act against terror wherever we find it, and in any way we need to. Against the leaders, against the planners, against those who are doing acts of terror and sending other people to do it.”

Militants affiliated with both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have claimed responsibility for the attack.

They said the rocket fire was meant to avenge the deaths of 19 civilians killed last week when Israeli fired shells at the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. ( Recap the story : Extended family wiped out in Gaza )

A Hamas spokesman blamed Israel and the US for the latest rocket attack, saying it had been triggered by previous strikes on Palestinians.

Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman said, “What happened today is due to the American support of the Israeli government. Because all the time, the Israeli occupation wants to kill more and more Palestinian people.”

Israel continues to maintain the attack on Beit Hanoun last week was unintended. It came after Israeli troops wound up a weeklong incursion in the town meant to take out Palestinian rocket-launching sites known to operate in the area.

 

Editor:Sun Luying