Attacks on Israelis fall in 2009

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The number of attacks on Israelis in 2009 fell sharply to its lowest level since 2000, says the country's intelligence agency Shin Bet.

A total of 15 Israelis were killed compared to 36 the previous year.

Most of the Israeli deaths came during the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza strip, which ended in January.

During the offensive, the Israeli army says it killed 1,166 Palestinians. The Palestinian health ministry's count is about 1,500.

Nine Israelis, including three civilians, were killed by Palestinian fire in Gaza. Four others, all Israeli soldiers, were killed by their own side.

Israel said it launched the Gaza offensive to stop rocket attacks on its territory.

Shin Bet said 566 rockets were fired from Gaza during 2009, including 160 since the end of the Israeli campaign.

This compared with more than 2,000 in 2008.