YNet: 'The Iron Dome system intercepted two rockets fired from the northern Gaza Strip towards Ashkelon. At least 12 rockets were fired Wednesday night from the Gaza Strip at southern towns and cities.' And: 'Palestinian sources within the Gaza Strip reported Wednesday that the IDF attacked a terror cell in the central Strip who were responsible for launching rockets from Gaza. Two Palestinians were injured in the strike and taken to hospital.'
Read the rest at the link.
At approximately 11:00 p.m. this evening (Wednesday) IAF aircraft targeted a squad of terrorists who were preparing to launch rockets at Israel.
The IDF Spokesperson said that a hit was confirmed, thwarting the rocket launch attempt.
“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians, and will not hesitate to respond with strength and determination to any element that uses terror against the State of Israel, until calm is restored,” the IDF Spokesperson said in his statement.
“The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.”
Remarks. As JPost reminds us, it's been six years since Israel removed its presence from Gaza.
Go read it all.
It took me 20 minutes to drive to Ashdod from Tel Aviv on Sunday morning, two days after the former was hit by seven Grad missiles fired from Hamas-controlled Gaza. According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Office, over 100 rockets and mortars were fired toward Israel since Friday August 19.
As has been my practice in Sderot for the past five years, my car windows were rolled down and the radio was turned down so I could hear the siren that would give me and everyone else 45 seconds to find a safe place. On the bright side, 45 seconds to run for your life in Ashdod is an improvement over the 15 seconds you have in Sderot.
The news announced burial plans for 38-year-old Yossi Ben-Sasson, who was killed by a Grad missile the night before in Beersheba when taking his nine-months-pregnant wife for a medical check up. The following news item was about a young woman fighting for her life at the Soroka hospital, also a victim of a Grad strike in Beersheba.
I arrived at Admor Me’gor street in Ashdod, where only a few days before a Grad missile had exploded within range of 900 yeshiva students and high school kids who were beginning their school day. ...
Stateside, Bachmann is falling back and Perry is gaining among Republicans in the polls. Tablet's Marc Tracy - hardly a right-winger - has to admit that
Perry would seem not to have much to recommend him to typical Jewish voters other than his support for Israel—but that that support indeed is strong.
The article cites Commentary in noting that
Shurat HaDin—the Israeli legal center whose “pro-Israel lawfare” played an essential role in disabling the ten ships that made up the presumptive flotilla—received Perry’s aid in drawing the U.S. government’s attention to the fact that American citizens aboard the flotilla (like Alice Walker) were potentially planning to violate the Neutrality Act. That law—which dates back to George Washington!—prohibits U.S. citizens from engaging in hostile acts against U.S.-allied countries. As part of their lobbying of Attorney General Eric Holder, at its request Rick Perry sent the nation’s top cop a letter backing the group. Apparently Perry had met its directors on a trip to Israel.
As always, read the whole thing at the link. The Texas governor is looking like a strong - and worthy - challenger to the incumbent President in next year's elections.

