Islamic Jihad vows more rocket attacks despite Israeli threats

The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) on Wednesday vowed to increase rocket attacks on Israel hours after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approved counter-attacks on Palestinian rocket squads.

"These Israeli threats are not new," said Abu Ahmad, spokesman for the Islamic Jihad's military wing known as Saraya al-Quds, adding "our group will not stop firing rockets into Israel as long as there is no ceasefire in the West Bank."

On Tuesday, four Israelis were wounded after several homemade rockets landed in the southern Israeli city of Sderot. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The attacks violated a fragile Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire that was reached in late November.

As the West Bank is excluded from the ceasefire deal, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched rockets to force Israel to apply the ceasefire in the West Bank, which is under daily Israeli raids.

Palestinian analyst Hazem Abu Shanab considered the Israeli decision as "a doorway to end the state of calmness that was declared last month."

"The Israelis try to send a message to the Palestinians that there will be reaction if you do not abide by the truce," he said.

Source: Xinhua