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Gaza Offensive Will Continue
by Ramit Plushnick-Masti
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged Sunday to press ahead with Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip until the army significantly decreases Palestinian rocket fire on Israel. "This operation has one goal: to decrease the Qassam (rocket) fire at southern Israeli towns and to halt the terror attacks that are trying to get organized and get out to Israel," Olmert said. Palestinian militants fired a rocket into the southern Israeli town of Sderot, the army said. (AP/Forbes)
Israel Sends Aid to Darfur Refugees
 Israel has recently donated an undisclosed sum to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to aid refugees from the massacres in Darfur. At Israel's encouragement, the amount has been matched by donations from several American Jewish organisations. The State of Israel has been following the situation in Darfur with great concern, particularly its impact on millions of innocent civilians. In 2004, Israel joined with Jewish organizations in the United States in a humanitarian effort to fund educational programs for refugee children from Darfur living in camps in Chad. (Andnetwork)
Iran Fires Missiles "That Could Reach Israel"
by Tim Butcher
 Iran has flexed its military muscles by test firing dozens of missiles including the Shahab-3, a long range device capable of hitting Israel or American bases in the region. Just 48 hours after an American-led flotilla exercised in the Gulf, Iranian state television reported the missiles were fired in the country’s central desert region at the opening of ten days of military manoeuvres codenamed “Great Prophet”, led by the elite Revolutionary Guards. “We want to show our deterrent and defensive power to trans-regional enemies, and we hope they will understand the message of the manoeuvres,” said General Yahya Rahim Safavi. (Telegraph-UK)
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Dodging Death in a Sderot Playground
by Josh Brannon
 The Kassam rocket just cleared the apartment block before slamming into the Sderot playground, less than 15 meters from the jungle gym. A child was wounded and another four individuals were treated for shock in Tuesday afternoon's rocket attack. "You see how we live? I don't need an alarm clock, because almost every day the Red Dawn (warning system) wakes me up," said Ura Meshayilov, 22. "No one should have to live like this." Robert Pessako, also 22, said, "We are playing by two separate rules. They launch rockets indiscriminately into our neighborhoods, and then we put our own soldiers at risk, sending them in there and telling them not to shoot if they think they may hit a civilian, while the terrorists shoot from behind them." (Jerusalem Post)
Gaza Clans Occupying Political Vacuum
by Liane Hansen
 In the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Palestinian Authority, the nominal government there, has become an increasingly disputed and dysfunctional body. Continued factional violence, fighting with Israeli forces and Western sanctions have all weakened the government's ability to maintain law and order and provide basic services. In that vacuum, large, powerful Palestinian families have stepped in and hold increasing sway, especially over security matters. (NPR)
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