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Israel Strikes 2 Gaza Sites Hours Before Talks Start Israel Strikes 2 Gaza Sites Hours Before Start of Talks
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM — In the hours before Israeli-Palestinian peace talks were to start here on Wednesday, Israeli warplanes struck two sites in Gaza in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian coastal territory against southern Israel the night before, according to the Israeli military.JERUSALEM — In the hours before Israeli-Palestinian peace talks were to start here on Wednesday, Israeli warplanes struck two sites in Gaza in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian coastal territory against southern Israel the night before, according to the Israeli military.
There were no casualties on either side, but the events underlined the continued potential for confrontation in the volatile area after weeks of relative quiet.There were no casualties on either side, but the events underlined the continued potential for confrontation in the volatile area after weeks of relative quiet.
The military said it hit concealed rocket launchers in the northern Gaza Strip overnight after a rocket fired from Gaza, which is controlled by the Islamic militant group Hamas, landed in an open area across the border.The military said it hit concealed rocket launchers in the northern Gaza Strip overnight after a rocket fired from Gaza, which is controlled by the Islamic militant group Hamas, landed in an open area across the border.
“This is an absurd situation that would not be tolerated anywhere else in the world,” Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the military, said in a statement. He said that the military “is charged with, and will continue to operate in order to safeguard Israel’s civilians and combat terror and its infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.”“This is an absurd situation that would not be tolerated anywhere else in the world,” Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the military, said in a statement. He said that the military “is charged with, and will continue to operate in order to safeguard Israel’s civilians and combat terror and its infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.”
Israel is conducting peace negotiations with Hamas’s rivals, the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, who exercise limited self-rule in the West Bank. The goal is to reach a final settlement in the form of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. But many Israelis and Palestinians are skeptical about the outcome. Among other things, Israelis point to the fact that the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has no control over what happens in Gaza.Israel is conducting peace negotiations with Hamas’s rivals, the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, who exercise limited self-rule in the West Bank. The goal is to reach a final settlement in the form of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. But many Israelis and Palestinians are skeptical about the outcome. Among other things, Israelis point to the fact that the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has no control over what happens in Gaza.
Hamas has been seen to make efforts to enforce a cease-fire along the Israel-Gaza border that was brokered by Egypt after a fierce round of cross-border fighting last November. But some smaller, more radical groups in Gaza sometimes operate against Israel, with or without permission from Hamas.Hamas has been seen to make efforts to enforce a cease-fire along the Israel-Gaza border that was brokered by Egypt after a fierce round of cross-border fighting last November. But some smaller, more radical groups in Gaza sometimes operate against Israel, with or without permission from Hamas.
Many Palestinians have, meanwhile, expressed skepticism about the peace talks, not least because they are starting out in the shadow of several recent announcements by Israel of more settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.Many Palestinians have, meanwhile, expressed skepticism about the peace talks, not least because they are starting out in the shadow of several recent announcements by Israel of more settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
In a new affront to the Palestinians on the eve of the talks, the Israeli Interior Ministry’s final approval of nearly 900 new apartments in a contested part of Jerusalem was officially published this week, Israeli news media reported Tuesday. It was Israel’s second move since Sunday to advance housing construction in areas sought by the Palestinians for a future state.In a new affront to the Palestinians on the eve of the talks, the Israeli Interior Ministry’s final approval of nearly 900 new apartments in a contested part of Jerusalem was officially published this week, Israeli news media reported Tuesday. It was Israel’s second move since Sunday to advance housing construction in areas sought by the Palestinians for a future state.
The new apartments, in an area known as Gilo, were approved by an Interior Ministry panel in December and later endorsed with some revisions by the full ministry. Official approval was published on Monday, as required under Israeli law. That news came as the Palestinians continued to react to the announcement on Sunday by the Israeli government of new construction tenders for other parts of Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.The new apartments, in an area known as Gilo, were approved by an Interior Ministry panel in December and later endorsed with some revisions by the full ministry. Official approval was published on Monday, as required under Israeli law. That news came as the Palestinians continued to react to the announcement on Sunday by the Israeli government of new construction tenders for other parts of Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
An Interior Ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak about the issue, characterized the publication of the ministry’s final approval of the Gilo units as “just a procedure.” In addition, the Housing Ministry and the Israel Lands Administration must still evaluate construction tenders for the Gilo housing, and groundbreaking could be months or more away.An Interior Ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak about the issue, characterized the publication of the ministry’s final approval of the Gilo units as “just a procedure.” In addition, the Housing Ministry and the Israel Lands Administration must still evaluate construction tenders for the Gilo housing, and groundbreaking could be months or more away.
But the timing of the news inflamed Palestinian passions.But the timing of the news inflamed Palestinian passions.
Arrangements for the peace talks have been a preoccupation of Secretary of State John Kerry, who has sought to persuade Mr. Abbas, the Palestinian president, that continued Israeli housing development in areas occupied by Israel after the 1967 war should not be a deal breaker.Arrangements for the peace talks have been a preoccupation of Secretary of State John Kerry, who has sought to persuade Mr. Abbas, the Palestinian president, that continued Israeli housing development in areas occupied by Israel after the 1967 war should not be a deal breaker.
Yasser Abed Rabbo, an aide to Mr. Abbas, was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying the news of Israeli housing expansion in areas occupied or annexed by Israel “threatens to make talks fail even before they’ve started.” Other critics said the housing expansion reflected what they regarded as Israeli intransigence on a fundamental issue.Yasser Abed Rabbo, an aide to Mr. Abbas, was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying the news of Israeli housing expansion in areas occupied or annexed by Israel “threatens to make talks fail even before they’ve started.” Other critics said the housing expansion reflected what they regarded as Israeli intransigence on a fundamental issue.
“Israel continues illegal construction in settlements throughout the occupied West Bank in all the major settlement blocs and has attempted to justify this by saying they intend to keep all those settlement blocs in any agreement anyway,” said Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development, a Palestinian advocacy group in Washington. “If Israel has already decided what the map is going to look like, what is the point of negotiating over territory?”“Israel continues illegal construction in settlements throughout the occupied West Bank in all the major settlement blocs and has attempted to justify this by saying they intend to keep all those settlement blocs in any agreement anyway,” said Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development, a Palestinian advocacy group in Washington. “If Israel has already decided what the map is going to look like, what is the point of negotiating over territory?”
The Gilo news came as Israel was releasing a group of long-held Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal to restart the talks, which have basically been stalled for three years over the issue of Israeli settlements and their impact on the viability of a future Palestinian state.The Gilo news came as Israel was releasing a group of long-held Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal to restart the talks, which have basically been stalled for three years over the issue of Israeli settlements and their impact on the viability of a future Palestinian state.
Mr. Kerry, who was traveling in Brazil, said he called Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Tuesday and discussed the settlement issue. He said that Mr. Netanyahu had been “completely upfront with me and with President Abbas that he would be announcing some additional building that would take place in places that will not affect the peace map.”Mr. Kerry, who was traveling in Brazil, said he called Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Tuesday and discussed the settlement issue. He said that Mr. Netanyahu had been “completely upfront with me and with President Abbas that he would be announcing some additional building that would take place in places that will not affect the peace map.”
“He has specifically agreed not to disturb what might be the potential for peace going forward,” Mr. Kerry added, saying he planned to call Mr. Abbas later.“He has specifically agreed not to disturb what might be the potential for peace going forward,” Mr. Kerry added, saying he planned to call Mr. Abbas later.
On Tuesday, Mr. Kerry reiterated that the longstanding American policy “with respect to all settlements is that they are illegitimate.” It was unclear whether the Gilo news would affect the scheduled talks.On Tuesday, Mr. Kerry reiterated that the longstanding American policy “with respect to all settlements is that they are illegitimate.” It was unclear whether the Gilo news would affect the scheduled talks.
Hours earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military used its Iron Dome missile-defense system to defend the southern resort city of Eilat for the first time, intercepting a rocket that it said had been fired from the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.Hours earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military used its Iron Dome missile-defense system to defend the southern resort city of Eilat for the first time, intercepting a rocket that it said had been fired from the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.
Witnesses told the Israeli news media that sirens went off after 1 a.m., and that booms were heard over the city as the rocket was intercepted.Witnesses told the Israeli news media that sirens went off after 1 a.m., and that booms were heard over the city as the rocket was intercepted.
An Islamic militant group calling itself Majlis Shura al-Mujahedeen fi Aknaf Bayt al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was meant to avenge the killing of four of its fighters in northern Sinai on Friday, according to Israel Radio.An Islamic militant group calling itself Majlis Shura al-Mujahedeen fi Aknaf Bayt al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was meant to avenge the killing of four of its fighters in northern Sinai on Friday, according to Israel Radio.
Some news reports from Egypt at the time said that the militants had been killed by an Israeli missile, possibly launched from a remotely piloted drone, and suggested that the strike had been carried out in coordination with Egypt.Some news reports from Egypt at the time said that the militants had been killed by an Israeli missile, possibly launched from a remotely piloted drone, and suggested that the strike had been carried out in coordination with Egypt.
The Israeli military and government have not confirmed or denied the reports, but Egyptian officials have denied reports of Israeli attacks inside their territory.The Israeli military and government have not confirmed or denied the reports, but Egyptian officials have denied reports of Israeli attacks inside their territory.
An Iron Dome battery was deployed in Eilat last month against a background of rising tensions along the Israel-Egypt border. Militants have been attacking Egyptian forces in Sinai almost daily, and the Egyptian military has intensified its campaign against extremist groups operating there.An Iron Dome battery was deployed in Eilat last month against a background of rising tensions along the Israel-Egypt border. Militants have been attacking Egyptian forces in Sinai almost daily, and the Egyptian military has intensified its campaign against extremist groups operating there.
Israel developed the Iron Dome system, which uses a radar-guided missile to shoot down rockets, with significant American financing and rolled out the first mobile units in 2011. Several are now deployed around the country, and Israeli officials say the system has proved itself, intercepting rockets with a success rate of 80 percent to 90 percent during periods of confrontation with Hamas-run Gaza.Israel developed the Iron Dome system, which uses a radar-guided missile to shoot down rockets, with significant American financing and rolled out the first mobile units in 2011. Several are now deployed around the country, and Israeli officials say the system has proved itself, intercepting rockets with a success rate of 80 percent to 90 percent during periods of confrontation with Hamas-run Gaza.
Israel closed its small airport in Eilat for about two hours on Tuesday because of what the military called “security assessments.” According to a former senior Israeli defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid inflaming tensions with Egypt, the airport was closed after Egypt warned of a potential attack there originating in Sinai.Israel closed its small airport in Eilat for about two hours on Tuesday because of what the military called “security assessments.” According to a former senior Israeli defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid inflaming tensions with Egypt, the airport was closed after Egypt warned of a potential attack there originating in Sinai.

Isabel Kershner reported from Jerusalem, and Rick Gladstone from New York. Michael R. Gordon contributed reporting from Washington.

Isabel Kershner reported from Jerusalem, and Rick Gladstone from New York. Michael R. Gordon contributed reporting from Washington.