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Islamic Jihad reject appeal for calm
 | The Arabic language has a word for 'calm'? Who knew? |
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - The Islamic Jihad militant group rejected a call from Mahmoud Abbas to halt rocket attacks on Israeli towns - dealing a new blow to the Palestinian leader and prompting a new round of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.
Abbas traveled to Gaza on Tuesday for talks with the militant groups, in part to halt growing violence along Israelâs border with Gaza. Israel has put heavy pressure on Abbas to stop militants from firing rockets.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, a participant in the meeting, said Abbas urged all Palestinian groups to honor a cease-fire reached with Israel in February. âWe demand everyone be committed to the truce,â Erekat said. âWe consider the truce a matter of high national interest.â
| And then his lips fell off. |
But Islamic Jihad, which has been responsible for most of the rocket fire, rejected the appeal. Spokesman Khaled Batch accused Israel of violating the cease-fire, and said attacks were the only proper response. âI think the continuation of resistance is whatâs better for the Palestinian people,â he said.
| "We shall have Dire Revengeâ¢!" |
Since Israelâs withdrawal in September from the Gaza Strip, militants have continued to fire homemade rockets into southern Israel. Although the rockets are notoriously inaccurate, more Israeli towns, including the city of Ashkelon, are in rocket range now that Israel is out of Gaza.
Late Tuesday, the Israeli air force dropped leaflets into northern Gaza, warning residents to stay out of areas used by militants to fire rockets. âTerror organizations continue to launch projectile rockets at Israeli territory from your neighborhoods,â the leaflet said. âPresence in areas used for projectile rocket launching puts your life in danger.â
| "And we're more accurate!" |
US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said Israel had responded to attacks on its own territory. âWhat we would like to see is effective measures against such acts so that the measures Israel is taking are not necessary,â Ereli said.
Posted by: Steve White 2005-12-28 |
