Nothing has changed in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza. Despite the severity of attacks emanating in Gaza, rocket fire and attacks against IDF patrols operating in the border area, responses to the warfare are somewhat automated and benign for as long as there is no loss of life or serious injury. The fact that terrorists continue to fire rockets over the border into civilian population centers appears insufficient cause for an appropriate military response.

On erev Shabbos, a bullet struck a home in Netiv Ha’asara, a community in vicinity of Gaza. B’chasdei Hashem there were no injuries or worse, and police surmise the bullet came from a Hamas sniper operating in Gaza.

In this case too there was no response and for the residents of the Gaza border community, life is a series of daily miracle as rocket fire continues, albeit with minimal or no news coverage for as long as there are no fatalities or serious injuries, testifying to the success of Ariel Sharon’s Disengagement Plan, which was to have brought peace and stability to southern Israel and a halt to rocket fire into Sderot and other southern municipalities.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)