Rocket fire raises concern over Gaza truce

Renewed rocket fire from the Gaza Strip targeted Israel yesterday amid concern that violence could flare up further as a six-month truce in and around the Palestinian territory ends this week.
The Israeli army said 10 rockets were fired at southern Israel from the tiny coastal strip, causing no casualties or damage.
Islamic Jihad said its armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, fired five rockets in retaliation for Monday's killing by Israeli force of one of its members in the occupied West Bank.
The radical movement had claimed similar attacks on Monday, which prompted two air Israeli air strikes in Gaza.
In a statement claiming responsibility for the rocket attacks, Islamic Jihad reiterated its opposition to any renewal of the truce that ends this week.
Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules Gaza, has also spoken out against extending the Egyptian-mediated six-month ceasefire that went into effect on June 19, but it indicated it was yet to make a final decision.
Israeli officials have said they want to continue the truce but warned that they would not hesitate to use military force should Gaza militants fail to halt rocket and mortar attacks.
Several ministers have called for a tougher line against Gaza militants, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who hopes to become premier after the February 10 election, has said Israel "cannot allow Gaza to remain in the hands of Hamas."
Since the truce went into effect, Palestinian militants have fired more than 320 mortar rounds and rockets at southern Israel, according to the military.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak said crossings into the Palestinian territory would remain closed on Wednesday because of the rockets.
Since a November 4 surge in violence, Israel has responded by completely sealing off Gaza, which is home to 1.5 million people.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who headed to Washington yesterday, planned to discuss the situation in Gaza during his talks on Frieay with US President George W Bush.
Abbas "will warn against an Israeli offensive in Gaza and will call for the lifting of the Israeli blockade," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.
The Palestinian president also called for a continuation of the Gaza truce, although he has had no influence there since his forces were violently ousted when Hamas took over the territory last year.