Israel to UN: Rocket firing hurting peace efforts

Official complaint filed with Human Rights Council dubs recent launching of rockets from Gaza Strip 'war crimes, crimes against humanity.' Meanwhile, mortar shell explodes near southern kibbutz; no injuries reported

Attila Somfalvi|Published: 08.01.10 , 10:37

Israel's UN envoy in Geneva Aharon Leshno Yaar sent a letter to the Human Rights Council over the weekend following the recent rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. State officials claim the council has a "peculiar obsession" against Israel.

In an official complaint letter sent at the Foreign Ministry's request it was noted that "The indiscriminate launching of rockets at civilians and civilian objects amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity."

The letter also stated that the attacks hurt the peace process and the resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

"The people of Israel have the right to live in peace and security. The recent attacks on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip seriously violate international law and undermine the peace process and the efforts to renew the direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority," it was stated.

Rough night

A Qassam rocket fired from northern Gaza on Saturday night hit the roof of a building in an educational institution located in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, outside of Sderot. There were no reports of injuries. Israel's Air Force responded by targeting a weapons smuggling tunnel on the Egyptian border and a tunnel below the border fence meant to serve terrorists in attacks inside Israeli territory.

A mortar shell fired from the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday morning exploded near a kibbutz in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

The current round of violence along Israel's border with Gaza began Friday morning, when a Grad rocket fired from the Hamas-ruled territory landed near an apartment building in central Ashkelon. A few hours later two mortars landed within the limits of the Eshkol Regional Council. There were no reports of injury in either attack, but eight people suffered from shock in Ashkelon.

State officials postulated Friday that the Grad rocket fire was an attempt by terror groups in Gaza to strike up conflict in the region ahead of negotiations between Israel and the PA.

In response to the firing, the IAF bombed various targets in the Gaza Strip on Friday night killing a Hamas militant and injuring 12 people.