Monthly Archives: July 2007

One Israeli soldier, Givati Infantry Brigade Staff Sergeant Arbel Raich, 21, was killed and two were lightly wounded overnight Wednesday in an exchange of fire with armed Palestinians at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) el-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, as Israeli troops were dispatched to locate smuggling tunnels.

For the first time, Hamas is asking for direct talks with Israel to discuss reopening the crossing points into the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian government headed by ousted Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh made a direct approach Tuesday to Israel on the matter.

Israel Strategic Affairs Minister Avidgor Lieberman reported that the NATO leaders told him that Israel ultimately could not count on the international community to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weaons.

Five Kassam rockets and four mortar shells were fired yesterday morning from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Over the weekend, during operational activity in the Beit Hanoun region of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army infantry's crack Givati Brigade reconnaissance unit troops discovered eight Kassam rocket launchers equipped with stopwatches, one of them ready for launching.