General Information

The calm in the western Negev continues. Hamas refrains from firing rockets into Israel and its senior figures emphasize for Western ears its policy of restraint. This past week the American Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and American special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell both visited Israel. There has been an increasing number Read more...

The relative calm in the western Negev continued this past week. Two notable events occurred: Palestinians terrorist operatives opened fire on an IDF force patrolling along the border security fence (a frequent occurrence these past weeks) and a rocket fell south of Kibbutz Nahal Oz (without causing casualties or damage). The Fatah-Hamas dialogue has stalled. Read more...

This past week quiet in the western Negev continued. Mortar shell fire continued against IDF soldiers on routine patrol activities along the border security fence. At an Israeli government meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas for a meeting to discuss “political and economic peace.” Read more...

This past week as well neither rockets nor mortar shells were fired into the western Negev from the Gaza Strip. There were more frequent shooting attacks targeting IDF patrols along the border security fence than in past weeks. In the internal Palestinian arena, another round of talks ended in Cairo without making progress in the Read more...

Quiet in the western Negev continued this past week, and no rockets or mortar shells were fired into Israel. June 25 marked the third anniversary of the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that the news items regarding Gilad Shalit were incorrect and might even be harmful. Fatah and Read more...