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| Israel launches fresh Gaza raid | Israel launches fresh Gaza raid |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Israel has warned of fresh action to prevent rocket fire from Gaza Israeli raid | |
| Israeli forces have briefly re-entered the Gaza Strip and clashed with Palestinian militants, with two people killed by gunfire, medics said. | Israeli forces have briefly re-entered the Gaza Strip and clashed with Palestinian militants, with two people killed by gunfire, medics said. |
| The dead were reported to be a senior militant and a baby girl. | The dead were reported to be a senior militant and a baby girl. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is winding up a trip to the region that hoped to revive peace talks. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is winding up a trip to the region that hoped to revive peace talks. |
| Israel stepped up military raids last week to counter rocket fire from Gaza. More than 100 Gazans were killed and Palestinian leaders suspended talks. | |
| Speaking in the West Bank on Tuesday, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas resisted US pressure to resume peace talks given events in Gaza, which is under control of the militant Hamas movement. | Speaking in the West Bank on Tuesday, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas resisted US pressure to resume peace talks given events in Gaza, which is under control of the militant Hamas movement. |
| "I call on the Israeli government to halt its aggression so the necessary environment can be created to make negotiations succeed, for us and for them, to reach the shores of peace in 2008," Mr Abbas said. | "I call on the Israeli government to halt its aggression so the necessary environment can be created to make negotiations succeed, for us and for them, to reach the shores of peace in 2008," Mr Abbas said. |
| Core issues | Core issues |
| During Wednesday's raid in Khan Younis, the baby was killed by a ricocheting bullet, and a local Islamic Jihad leader was also killed, Palestinian health ministry officials said. | During Wednesday's raid in Khan Younis, the baby was killed by a ricocheting bullet, and a local Islamic Jihad leader was also killed, Palestinian health ministry officials said. |
| An asymmetric fightIn pictures: Gaza aftermath There were no reports of Palestinian rocket fire on southern Israel, after militants had fired dozens of the unguided missiles, including regular salvoes at the city of Ashkelon for the first time. | An asymmetric fightIn pictures: Gaza aftermath There were no reports of Palestinian rocket fire on southern Israel, after militants had fired dozens of the unguided missiles, including regular salvoes at the city of Ashkelon for the first time. |
| Ms Rice has been calling for the resumption of peace talks as soon as possible, saying they were necessary to counter Hamas' influence. | Ms Rice has been calling for the resumption of peace talks as soon as possible, saying they were necessary to counter Hamas' influence. |
| She also urged Israel to take more care not to kill civilians in its military operations. | She also urged Israel to take more care not to kill civilians in its military operations. |
| Ms Rice met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert late on Tuesday and held morning talks with Palestinian negotiators Saeb Erekat and Ahmed Qurei. | Ms Rice met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert late on Tuesday and held morning talks with Palestinian negotiators Saeb Erekat and Ahmed Qurei. |
| She was also scheduled to hold talks with Foreign and Defence Ministers Tzipi Livni and and Ehud Barak on Wednesday. | She was also scheduled to hold talks with Foreign and Defence Ministers Tzipi Livni and and Ehud Barak on Wednesday. |
| Analysts are sceptical that a deal on core issues - Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, borders and security - can be achieved by the end of 2008, as envisioned by the US-sponsored peace process launched at Annapolis last November. | Analysts are sceptical that a deal on core issues - Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, borders and security - can be achieved by the end of 2008, as envisioned by the US-sponsored peace process launched at Annapolis last November. |
| On Tuesday, US President George W Bush said he was still optimistic and that there was "plenty of time to get a deal done" in the 10 months before he leaves office. | On Tuesday, US President George W Bush said he was still optimistic and that there was "plenty of time to get a deal done" in the 10 months before he leaves office. |
| Meanwhile, Israel's top political and security officials have also been discussing policy towards Gaza. | Meanwhile, Israel's top political and security officials have also been discussing policy towards Gaza. |
| Reports say the officials are considering several options including a large-scale ground operation, and a re-occupation of northern Gaza. | Reports say the officials are considering several options including a large-scale ground operation, and a re-occupation of northern Gaza. |