The Guardian – Dec 26, 2019
Rockets force Netanyahu to seek shelter during campaign rally. Click to enlarge
A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip at a southern Israeli city as it hosted a campaign rally prompted the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to take shelter briefly before resuming the event, Israeli TV stations have reported.
The Israeli military confirmed the launch on Wednesday against Ashkelon, which is 12km (7.5 miles) from the coastal Palestinian enclave, and said the rocket was shot down by an Iron Dome air defence interceptor.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility in Gaza, which is under the control of Hamas Islamists and where a smaller armed faction, Islamic Jihad, exchanged fire with Israel during a two-day surge of violence last month.
Israeli TV stations showed Netanyahu, who is campaigning to stay at the helm of the conservative Likud party in an internal election on Thursday, being escorted from a stage by bodyguards. The reports said he was taken to a shelter after sirens sounded.
The Israeli military said it had deployed fighter jets and helicopters to bomb Gaza overnight in response to the strike.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the aircraft had attacked several Hamas targets although it did not say which group it believed had launched the rocket.
“The IDF holds the Hamas terror organization responsible for events transpiring in the Gaza Strip and emanating from it. Hamas will bear the consequences for actions against Israeli civilians,” the statement said.
It was the second such incident after a September appearance by Netanyahu in the nearby town of Ashdod was briefly disrupted by a rocket siren.
Israel sparked the November fighting in Gaza by assassinating Baha Abu Al-Atta, an Islamic Jihad commander whom it accused of ordering the launch against Ashdod. “He [Al-Atta] is no longer around,” a video circulated on social media showed a smiling Netanyahu saying after he retook the stage in Ashkelon, to cheers from onlookers.
In a veiled threat of retaliation for Wednesday’s attack, he added: “Whoever tried to make an impression just now should pack his bags.“
While Netanyahu is widely expected to retain Likud’s leadership, he faces a tough battle ahead of a March general election in Israel – its third in a year, after he and his centrist rival Benny Gantz failed to secure majorities in two previous ballots. Netanyahu’s standing has been dented by an indictment on corruption charges, which he denies.
Netanyahu’s failure to stem attacks from Gaza has been invoked by his political rivals. “The situation in which Israeli citizens live at the mercy of terrorists and the prime minister of Israel is unable to tour parts of his country is a badge of shame on the security policy in the south – and a loss of deterrence that no sovereign country can accept,” Gantz, a former military chief, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Think carefully now Israelis, your mad dog leaders are planning a major war with Iran. Is it the real deal this time? Only God knows.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israeli-military-chief-outlines-strategy-coming-war-irans-its-allies
Check out how determined are the Jewish trolls in the comment section. They are always present in these articles, like a pack of wolves. The trolls’ script doesn’t change, the victim is the offender, Arabs are the problem. Oops! Wait a minute, Iranians are not Arabs! It’s time to upload a new script, Hasbara battalion commander.
One thing is certain, in this coming war the Israelis will fight until the last American soldier.
A rocket lands near the israeli terrorist leader, so they go out and bomb Palestinian suburbs, where is the sense in that ?
can no one do joined up thinking ?
they cant get who did it so they go bomb just anybody
but its how the dirty jews think
@ NBTT
Please try to be more empathetic 🙂
Now they have their own state, their own army, first time for two millenia.
And they control a superpower, which they had created – United States.
And they have the world reserve currency – US dollar. Also their creation.
Many Americans believe that the US is like a used condom. Probably not yet, still works. Until works, must be used in the fight for world domination.
A war on Iran is a logical step. Although risky since Russia and China will not sleep, like during Libya destruction.
@ NBTT (Nothing But The Truth) friend:
How right you are! Also Bibi NutJobYahu gets his reason to attack Gaza/West Bank and gets re-elected in spring 2020, by majority with fewer coalition partners as IsraHell Dictator and Chief and will use USA/NATO troops to attack Iran. Hopefully Russia/China and Turkey will foil his plans!
It was probably fired by lsrael anyway, just to give them an excuse for military action and boost nutty’s election chances.
Bibi had either the Shin Bet or the Kidon launch that bottle rocket. Just like what happened several months back. How else would they know when Nutty would be at the podium?
Nuttyahoo is desperate to stay in office to avoid jail so that slimy POS will do anything.
Now Bibi the Butcher can carpet-bomb Gaza, showing the Israelis how tough he is on those ‘animals.’
In a sane world, there would be no Nuttyahoo’s.