Gaza shoots rockets at Hadera, Jerusalem

By Aryeh Savir

Aryeh Savir
Aryeh Savir
Undetonated rocket found in Tel Aviv metropolitan area.  (Photo: IDF)
Undetonated rocket found in Tel Aviv metropolitan area. (Photo: IDF)

JERUSALEM – For the first time a rocket has been fired from Gaza at the northern town of Hadera, which is situated 100 km (62 miles) away from the Gaza Strip. A short while before that a rocket fired from Gaza hit Israel’s capital city, Jerusalem. On Tuesday nihgt, July 8, a rock concert with some 6,000 participants was surprised by the attack, the concert was immediately stopped and all were dispersed.

Tel Aviv was also attacked by rockets, and within the three hours, the sirens sounded multiple times in Tel Aviv. As a result of the attack the US embassy in Tel Aviv has issued a warning to US citizens in Israel. The embassy will operate at minimal staffing until further notice.  Chief of Mission personnel will not be allowed to travel south of Tel Aviv without prior approval. Embassy families living in Tel Aviv are being advised to remain at home and in close contact with one another. “Recent events underscore the importance of situational awareness. We remind you to be aware of your surroundings at all times, to monitor the media, and to follow directions of emergency responders,” the notice stated.

Since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge, about 160 rockets have been fired at Israel. 116 of them hit Israel and 29 were intercepted. During the previous day Gaza terrorists fired approximately 80 rockets at Israel. The IDF has targeted 270 terror sites across the Gaza Strip. 5 senior Hamas operatives, 10 terror tunnels, 98 concealed rocket launchers, and 18 weapon storage and manufacturing facilities have been targeted. Of the weapon storage facilities, 5 of them were located inside mosques.

Meanwhile,Minister of Economy Naftali Bennett reportedly was physically assaulted Tuesday night at Ha’aretz Newspaper’s Peace Conference after delivering a presentation there.

Throughout the duration of his 15 minute presentation Bennett was heckled with calls of ‘fascist’ and ‘murderer’, and Bennett was seen pacing back and forth, angered by the inappropriate behavior. Amos Schocken, owner of Ha’aretz tried to silence the hecklers, stating: “People here were willing to talk to Arafat; it can’t be that we will not hear Naftali Bennet.” Bennett responded by stating that he represents the voice of millions, and will be silenced by no one.

On his way out a group of some 25 participants of the peace conference surrounded him and assaulted him, and one of them struck him on the back. Bennett was rushed away by his security detail.

Ha’aretz downplayed the incident, claiming it was only a minor occurrence and stating that Minister Bennett was exaggerating to generate headlines.

MK Ayeket Shaked, a member of Bennett’s Bayit Yehudi party, stated that “it is shameful that at a so-called peace conference, people who are willing to talk to Hamas refuse to hear the Minister of Economy.”

The Ha’aretz Peace Conference is currently taking place in Tel Aviv, which was attacked several time dTuesday night by rockets.

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Savir is a staff writer for the Tazpit News Agency of Israel