Dec. 17, 2008
It is a sobering policy change: The United States has implemented a new regulation that any American official in southern Israel, where rockets land by the dozens courtesy of Hamas in Gaza, must travel in an armored vehicle to protect them from Kassam attacks.
While that may be a good idea for anyone traveling in the area, including the residents, this new rule shows that the US considers the situation about as dire as Iraq and Afghanistan. An Israel Defense Forces official told Army Radio that according to U.S. regulations, Sderot "is like Iraq and Afghanistan" for the Americans.
On Wednesday 14 more rockets hit open areas in the western Negev, preceded by 10 on Tuesday. No casualties or damage were reported in the attacks.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak called for an extension of a cease-fire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
"We are not deterred from an operation in Gaza but we are also not rushing into one," Barak said. "Calm will be met by calm but if there is no choice we will act when and where we see fit."
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