Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., July 09, 2008 Tamuz 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:06 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

A Palestinian Qassam rocket. (Albert Sadikov / Jini) Last update - 19:20 08/07/2008 Mortar shell hits W. Negev in fresh Gaza truce violation By Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies Tags: Hamas, Israel, Gaza Strip  Gaza militants on Tuesday fired a mortar shell into the western Negev in another violation of the rocky truce between Israel and Hamas in the coastal territory. The shell hit near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, according to Israel Radio. The army said there were no casualties or damage. No Palestinian group immediately claimed responsibility for the fire. Advertisement A truce reached June 19 between Israel and Gaza militants has been repeatedly violated by Palestinian rocket and mortar fire, leading Israel to punitively shut Gaza's border crossings. Meanwhile, Hamas leaders plan to hold talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo on the future of a cease-fire. Officials in Gaza familiar with the Egyptian-Hamas dialogue said the talks would get under way on Wednesday. "We will evaluate the Israeli commitment. They are opening the crossings partially and that was against the agreement," Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, told reporters. Zahar said he and other Hamas officials would urge Egypt to press Israel to stop the repeated closures. He added that the discussions also would include prospects for a prisoner swap with Israel. Gaza militants have been holding kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit for the past two years and hope to trade him for hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. Accusing Israel of a lack of commitment to the truce, Hamas last week declared talks on an exchange suspended. Zahar said Egyptian mediators would brief the group on Israel's position. Israel accedes to Egypt request to reopen Gaza crossings Earlier Tuesday, Israel reopened its border crossings with the Gaza Strip in response to an Egyptian request, reversing an earlier decision to close them after a Palestinian mortar attack the previous day. "In response to a special request by the Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, Defense Minister Ehud Barak agreed to open the crossings at noon," a Defense Ministry statement said. Eariler, Israel closed all but one of its crossings with Gaza. "All crossings, except for the Erez terminal, will be closed today because of the mortar fired yesterday," said defense official Peter Lerner. On Monday, two mortars struck an open space between the Karni crossing and Nahal Oz, causing neither casualties nor property damage. Israel closed its border crossings with Gaza last week in the wake of the rocket fire, but reopened them on Sunday to allow goods into the Strip and Gazans in need of medical assistance out of the coastal territory. Over 12 rockets and mortars have been fired from Gaza since the truce began. In response, Israel has kept the crossings closed about half of the time since the Egyptian-brokered truce took effect. Related articles: Israel to close Gaza crossings Tuesday in wake of mortar fire Egypt uncovers three tunnels on border with Gaza strip Israel to create 'special security zone' on Gaza border Bookmark to del.icio.us   Desert pursuit IDF criticizes Egyptian soldiers over fatal cross-border manhunt. Backing McCain The more religious the voter the more likely he is to support McCain over Obama.   1.   Don`t go too far from the barrier, you`ll have to close it again 11:58  |  MR 08/07/08   2.   Ceasefire 14:14  |  Jeffrey 08/07/08   3.   surrender by proxy 15:08  |  Arie 08/07/08   4.   mad dogs 15:13  |  dovale 08/07/08   5.   If it`s Tuesday the crossing must be open 16:18  |  Zev 08/07/08   6.   Haaretz using palestinian spin doctors regarding gaza 16:50  |  Arie 08/07/08   7.   Deal or No Deal 17:29  |  Ari 08/07/08   8.   We know how to stop the Qassams/mortars 17:34  |  E Olmert 08/07/08   9.   As opposed to 18:43  |  Dave Duncan 08/07/08   10.   If the Borders are Closed ... 19:06  |  Bernie 08/07/08   11.   Hamas has Qassams and Akiva Eldar ready to defend Qassam crews 19:37  |  Absolute Sweden 08/07/08   12.   The truce is not respected : Win the war against terror. 20:46  |  Jean Van Daem 08/07/08   13.   I`m worried 21:28  |  utagawa 08/07/08   14.   ``No One claimed Responsibility`` I wonder how that mortar got to 23:18  |  Gil 08/07/08   15.   Hamas wants something for nothing- and they`re getting it 04:46  |  Conroy 09/07/08   16.   Memo to Haaretz editors 17:03  |  Johnboy 09/07/08

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