New massive Gaza operation unlikely despite renewed rocket fire

Source: Xinhua | 02-02-2009 08:00

by Deng Yushan

JERUSALEM, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Sunday continued their rocket and mortar fire at Israel, causing injuries and prompting leaders in the Jewish state to vow a "disproportionate" response.

Two Israeli soldiers and a civilian were wounded in the latest Palestinian barrage against southern Israel, including at least five rockets and eight mortar shells, according to local police and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

On Sunday night, Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on several targets in the Gaza Strip, including an empty Hamas police station and the borderline between Gaza and Egypt. No injuries were reported.

The latest attacks followed a notable flare-up of violence between Gazan militants and Israeli troops last week after a roadside bomb killed an Israeli soldier along the border in the sole fatal incident since the two sides separately staged a ceasefire on Jan. 18 after Israel's massive offensive in Gaza.

When wrapping up the 22-day punishing operation, which Israel said was aimed to end the Gazan rocket fire and restore peace to the southern communities, Israeli officials warned of harsh retaliation to any new Palestinian attack and threatened a new round of assaults if necessary.

"The cabinet's position from the outset was that if there is rocket fire at southerners, there will be a response that will essentially be disproportionate," outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reiterated at Sunday's cabinet meeting.

Yet although the violence continues and the Israeli officials are talking tough, which augurs ill for the already fragile ceasefire, the Jewish state is widely seen as unlikely to repeat the recently-finished Operation Cast Lead, which killed over 1,400in Gaza.

"Israel is more likely to launch airstrikes and limited operations in response to the rocket fire," Dr. Ephraim Kam, deputy head of the Institute for National Security Studies, (INSS) told Xinhua, echoing remarks made by some defense officials.