Monday, March 11, 2013

First rocket fired from Gaza into Israel since November cease-fire


The cease fire between Palestine and Israel is over. Palestine fired a rocket into southern Israel on February 26th as a response to the death of a Palestinian prisoner. For some time, Palestine has been requesting a review of the conditions of the Israeli prisons.  These requests have been ignored.  To raise awareness about this issue, Palestine warned that if a Palestinian died while imprisoned, the cease fire will be over. While it is unclear (from the article) exactly how the 30-year old Arafat Jaradat died, what is clear is that Palestine fired a rocket into southern Israel on Tuesday, March 5, ending a three-month cease fire between the Israel and Palestine.
On the preceding Sunday, the Palestinians informed U.S. President Obama of their intentions.  The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades took responsibility for the attack. To reduce the possibility of retaliation and an escalation, President Obama will speak to the Israelis and hopefully to encourage them to release the Palestinian prisoners. Tension between Palestine and Israel had subsided thanks to the efforts of the U.S. and Egypt who brokered a cease fire in November.  This article connects to our course as it further illustrates the fragile nature of peace in the Middle East and how the conflict between erupt at any time.  This article provides an understanding of life in Gaza and how conflict is part of a way of life between Israel and Palestine.

-Katie Juhl

No comments:

Post a Comment