National Security Council :Rocket threat could worsen

National Security Council reveals rockets might reach farther cities, such as Ashdod, Kiryat Gat and Ofakim. 'IDF must nip the rocket threat in the bud' says council
Roni Sofer

The National Security Council warned Thursday against the rocket threat looming over Israel, saying that Palestinian rocket range could rise significantly due to new technological developments, which could prolong rockets' shelf-life.

Attacks Continue

Rocket lands near hotel in Ashkelon / Shmulik Hadad

Rocket fired by Palestinians in northern Gaza Strip lands near hotel on Ashkelon's beach; no injuries or damage reported in attack. Police bomb squad says rocket might have been a Katyusha, as area is out of Qassam range

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"The wide range of operations carried out by Israel, both military and civil, have succeeded in curbing gunmen activity, but no real answer has been found for the rocket threat, which has been Israel's main concern for the past two years," claims a report by the council, which was submitted to the government Thursday.

Due to political considerations, Hamas has not been directly involved in launching missiles, but still enables terror organizations who wish to do so, specifically the Islamic Jihad, to operate freely.

The Qassam is considered a strategic weapon of the Palestinian terror organizations, used to threaten the lives of the Israeli communities located within rocket range. According to the report, 2,383 missiles landed in the western Negev between the years 2001-2007, 20 people were killed and 583 wounded in Qassam strikes.

More than 1,600 cases of stress-related injuries have been reported in the last six months due to Qassam attacks. Sderot is the main target for the attacks, absorbing some 45% of the rockets.