Qassam rocket explodes in open area Thursday evening, no injuries reported
in attack
Shmulik Hadad YNET Published: 07.16.09, 20:20 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3747949,00.html

Rockets are back? Palestinian terrorists fired a Qassam rocket from the
northern Gaza Strip Thursday evening. The rocket landed in an open area in
southern Israel.

No injuries or damages were reported in the attack.

Southern residents reported hearing a loud explosion a short while after the
Color Red alert system was activated.

Earlier this week, Hamas security forces detained members of Islamic Jihad's
military wing on suspicion of firing mortar shells at IDF troops near the
Gaza border fence.

On Wednesday, members of the Kfar Aza Kibbutz in the south met with
President Shimon Peres. During the meeting, residents expressed their fear
over the possibility of renewed rocket attacks.

Regional Council Head Alon Shuster said that "the fear of rocket attacks is
present all the time, as we know there is no control over all (Palestinian)
organizations."

"We think the government needs to deal with the economic rehabilitation of
Sderot and the Gaza region. A new government has been in power for several
months now, and it needs to address it," he said.

Also on Wednesday, the defense establishment and the Rafael Armament
Development Authority reported successful tests of the Iron Dome rocket
defense system over the past few days. The system succeeded in intercepting
and destroying targets.

The Iron Dome system was developed by Rafael in order to defend Israel from
rocket and missile attacks.