Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new centrist party on Monday declared Palestinian statehood as a central goal, and Israel indicated it would drop a threat to ban Jerusalem's Palestinians from voting in their parliamentary election, signaling a moderate line for present and future political moves.
But the signs of accommodation were dampened by an announcement of new Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military yesterday fired a barrage of artillery and missiles at the Gaza Strip, hitting two offices of the militant al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and a bridge the army said was used by militants to reach areas where they fire rockets.
PHOTO: EPA
Hours later, about two dozen armed al-Aqsa militants took over the governor's office and two other government buildings in northern Gaza -- the latest outbreak of lawlessness that has undermined the rule of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Israel's pre-dawn aerial strikes were part of the army's attempt to halt rocket fire on Israeli towns bordering Gaza. Sharon has approved a buffer zone in northern Gaza, although the army said it has not yet implemented the plan. Enforcement -- including firing at anyone who enters the area -- is not likely to begin in the coming 12 hours, the army said.
The army has been destroying roads and other installations used by militants to get to areas that put Israeli towns within range of their highly inaccurate, homemade rockets. The bridge destroyed yesterday has been targeted before.
Since Israel's withdrawal this summer from the Gaza Strip, more Israeli towns -- including the city of Ashkelon -- have come into rocket range. Earlier this month, a rocket landed near Ashkelon's power plant and a fuel depot, alarming Israelis.
The offices of al-Aqsa -- a group with links to the ruling Fatah party -- were targeted because militants used them to meet, plan and recruit, the army said. But Palestinians said the offices were used for social and educational purposes.
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