Gaza fires rocket at Israeli city
Jerusalem: A rocket fired from Gaza Strip on Friday hit Israel's 5th largest city of Ashkelon, a day after the Arab League gave green signal to resume direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).The Grad-type rocket hit a coastal resort causing some damage but no casualties. None of the Palestinian groups in Gaza immediately took responsibility for the attack.
At least two people were treated for shock. The northern Negev city has been hit many times by rockets during Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip in 2008-09, but the number of attack has since been subsided. Four Qassam rockets and two mortar shells were fired at Israel last weekend, but none of them caused any casualties.
Hamas controls the coastal strip since June 2007 when its fighters vanquished security forces loyal to PA in pitched battles. Israel has said that it will hold Hamas responsible for any attack directed on it from Gaza.
Meanwhile, American efforts bore fruit when Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo authorised PA to enter into direct negotiations with Israel, but left it up to the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to decide on the timing.
Israel welcomed the decision, with prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu issuing a statement saying he was "prepared to begin direct and honest discussions with the PA in the coming days." —PTI
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