[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

It remains unclear if the direct hit on a Sderot home leading to the serious
wounding of a woman will have a significant impact.

We do not know yet if the woman has an interesting story or has other
features (she and/or husband photogenic, verbal, politically significant,
has interesting angle, etc.) that will warrant anything more than minimum
media attention.

This evening marks Jerusalem Day and the media is already locked into
coverage of the festivities so coverage of the attack can be expected to be
limited to periodic updates.

An additional factor is that the chaotic situation between Fatah and Hamas
in the Gaza Strip makes it tempting to sit back and watch them kill
themselves while leaving the fate of the Israelis residing near the Gaza
Strip in large part to luck. ]

============

Two wounded by Qassam rockets in Sderot; Hamas claims responsibility

By Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondent Last update - 19:04 15/05/2007
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/859908.html

Two people were wounded Tuesday, one seriously and one moderately, in a
Qassam rocket strike on a house in the western Negev town of Sderot.

An additional rocket hit a schoolyard in the town. There were no reports of
injuries in that attack.

Two more rockets were fired at the western Negev on Tuesday, one of which
apparently struck the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council.

The security cabinet approved broader military action in the Gaza Strip to
counter the ongoing Qassam rocket fire.

Currently, the army will be allowed a freer hand in two types of activities:
operating along the border fence and targeting Qassam rocket crews.

In some instances the army will be allowed to carry out operations deeper in
Palestinian territory. Currently, such activities are restricted to
uncovering tunnels and securing areas where explosive devices have been
identified.

Regarding the Qassam rocket crews, authorization will be given to target
them at earlier stages of preparation. Currently, crews are targeted only
when they are about to launch rockets. Authorization for targeting rocket
crews at earlier stages will depend on whether an IDF operation would
endanger the lives of Palestinian civilians near the militants.

Also, a process is expected to be approved for isolated assassinations of
Islamic Jihad militants involved in Qassam rocket launches.

In recent months, Israel has not tried to carry out assassinations in the
Gaza Strip.