The Israeli Air Force struck several targets in the Gaza Strip early Monday morning in response to the barrage of rockets fired into Israel from the Hamas-ruled territory over the weekend. Hamas confirmed that nine of its operatives had been killed in the strikes, including one terrorist who was in the process of setting up a rocket to launch when he was hit. A Hamas spokesman declared that Israel had carried out a “grace escalation” and warned that the Jewish State would “pay the price” for daring to defend its citizens against his organizations violent attacks. Thousands of residents of southern Israel spent most of the weekend in or near bomb shelters, while the Iron Dome air defense system intercepted a handful of rockets fired towards Ber Sheeva and Ashkelon. Also, the IDF retaliated to a mortar round that was fired into Israel from Syrian territory on Saturday.
Meanwhile, citing the government’s response to the recent round of terrorism, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced on Monday he is taking himself and the other 10 Yisrael Bytanu MKs out of the joint partnership with Likud, although he said they would stay in the coalition and would not try to force new elections. Read More
