Comments (0)Israel Hits Gaza Tunnels in Response to Barrel Bombs
February 6, 2010Jerusalem
JTA Wire Service
Israel destroyed two Gaza smuggling tunnels in response to Hamas’ attempt to attack Israeli targets in the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel’s Air Force on Tuesday night struck the tunnels used by Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
On Wednesday, a third explosives-laden barrel released by Palestinian terrorists washed up on the beach at Palmachim, in central Israel. Also, a Kassam rocket fired from Gaza landed near Sderot in southern Israel, causing no damage or injuries.
One of the tunnels hit was used for the infiltration of terrorists into Israel and the other for smuggling weapons, according to the IDF. Three Gazan Palestinians were injured in the attack, according to Palestinian reports.
The IDF said the strike was in retaliation for Hamas’ attempt to blow up Israeli targets in the Mediterranean using explosives-laden barrels, two of which washed up Monday on the shores of southern Israeli beaches in Ashdod and Ashkelon. Several others reportedly exploded in the sea last Friday.
The attack also was in retaliation for a rocket shot Tuesday from Gaza at a civilian area in southern Israel, the IDF said. No injuries or damage were reported. Some 19 rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza last month.
Israeli police continue to patrol beaches looking for additional explosives, and have called on the public to be alert for suspicious objects, Haaretz reported. Police also are using helicopters to look for more explosives. They are concerned that storms predicted for the rest of the week will wash other barrels ashore.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Abu Saed, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, a Gaza faction with close ties to Hamas, said that many unexploded barrel bombs are still in the sea. Saed said the attack was to avenge the assassination last month of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel room. Hamas has accused Israel of the murder.
Natural Gas Found Off Israeli Coast
A reserve of up to 6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas was found off the coast of Israel.
The gas could be worth up to $7.54 billion at current prices, the Israeli daily business publication Gloves reported Tuesday.
The prospective resources in two gas fields, called Mira and Sarah, were discovered by Canadian Bontan Oil and Gas Company. They are located off the Mediterranean coast close to Haifa, near the gas fields Tamar and Dalit, which were discovered last year.
Netanyahu’s Teen Son Wins Bible Quiz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s youngest child won the Jerusalem district’s Bible Quiz.
Avner Netanyahu, 15, with Wednesday’s victory will represent the Jerusalem public school district in the national Bible Quiz to be held later this year.
Avner scored 98 out of 100 to defeat 50 opponents, Israel National News reported.
His mother, Sara, has three older brothers who have won the national Bible Quiz and her father is an expert in Bible study, the news service reported.
Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu have two sons; the prime minister also has a daughter from a previous marriage.
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.