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Israeli Airstrike Kills Palestinian in Gaza Israeli Airstrike Kills Palestinian in Gaza
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM — A Palestinian man was killed in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza on Tuesday hours after an Israeli civilian was stabbed to death by a Palestinian in the West Bank. The two attacks, coming against a backdrop of growing tensions, were the first such killings in months and raised the specter of further confrontation.JERUSALEM — A Palestinian man was killed in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza on Tuesday hours after an Israeli civilian was stabbed to death by a Palestinian in the West Bank. The two attacks, coming against a backdrop of growing tensions, were the first such killings in months and raised the specter of further confrontation.
The Israeli victim, Evyatar Borovsky, a father of five from the settlement of Yitzhar, was the first Israeli fatality from Palestinian violence in the West Bank since September 2011.The Israeli victim, Evyatar Borovsky, a father of five from the settlement of Yitzhar, was the first Israeli fatality from Palestinian violence in the West Bank since September 2011.
The Israeli military described the target in Gaza, Haitham al-Mishal, as “a key terror figure” who manufactured and traded in weapons, including rockets and explosive devices, and worked with all the militant organizations in the Gaza Strip. The military added that Mr. Mishal had been involved in the firing of rockets at the southern Israeli resort of Eilat earlier this month, although Palestinian officials said he was a police officer. The Israeli military described the target in Gaza, Haitham al-Mishal, as a “key terror figure” who manufactured and traded in weapons, including rockets and explosive devices, and worked with all the militant organizations in the Gaza Strip. The military added that Mr. Mishal had been involved in the firing of rockets at the southern Israeli resort of Eilat earlier this month, although Palestinian officials said he was a police officer.
This was the first Israeli strike against a militant in the Palestinian coastal enclave since a cease-fire ended eight days of fierce cross-border fighting in November. It remained to be seen how Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls the enclave, and other groups there would react. It was the first Israeli strike against a militant in Gaza, the Palestinian coastal enclave, since a cease-fire ended eight days of fierce cross-border fighting in November. It remains to be seen how Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza, and other groups there will react.
Israel said that the rockets fired at Eilat, which landed harmlessly in open ground in the city, had been launched from the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula. A shadowy Islamic extremist group, the Mujahedeen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem, which operates in Sinai and Gaza, said it had fired the two rockets at Eilat in support of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Israel said the rockets fired at Eilat, which landed harmlessly on open ground in the city, had been launched from the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula. A shadowy Islamic extremist group, the Mujahedeen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem, which operates in Sinai and Gaza, said it had fired the two rockets at Eilat in support of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Two more rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel over the weekend. In an immediate response, Israeli warplanes struck a weapons storage facility and a Hamas training installation in Gaza early on Sunday, according to the military, and Israel temporarily closed the only crossing for commercial goods on the Israel-Gaza border.Two more rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel over the weekend. In an immediate response, Israeli warplanes struck a weapons storage facility and a Hamas training installation in Gaza early on Sunday, according to the military, and Israel temporarily closed the only crossing for commercial goods on the Israel-Gaza border.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Tuesday’s deadly strike was “a continuation of our policy.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday’s deadly strike was “a continuation of our policy.”
“We will not accept the sporadic firing of rockets from either the Gaza Strip or Sinai,” he said, according to a statement from his office. “We will act, and are acting, in order to defend Israeli citizens.”“We will not accept the sporadic firing of rockets from either the Gaza Strip or Sinai,” he said, according to a statement from his office. “We will act, and are acting, in order to defend Israeli citizens.”
Speaking to reporters in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, said that the Israeli action was “dangerous and unjustifiable.” Asked about the future of the cease-fire, Mr. Barhoum said that the militant groups in Gaza had “a clear strategy of resistance to deal with the occupation,” referring to Israel. Speaking to reporters in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, said the Israeli action was “dangerous and unjustifiable.” Asked about the future of the cease-fire, Mr. Barhoum said the militant groups in Gaza had “a clear strategy of resistance to deal with the occupation,” referring to Israel.
The Mujahedeen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem issued a statement on Tuesday claiming Mr. Mishal, the targeted Palestinian, as one of its members. It added that Mr. Mishal had formerly belonged to the armed wing of Hamas. The Mujahedeen Shura Council issued a statement on Tuesday claiming Mr. Mishal, the targeted Palestinian, as one of its members. It added that Mr. Mishal had formerly belonged to the armed wing of Hamas.
Ashraf al-Qedra, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza, said that Mr. Mishal was a Hamas government employee and had been working as a security guard at Al-Shifa, Gaza’s main hospital. But the Mujahedeen Shura Council is made up of Jihadist Salafists, Islamic extremists who have recently been challenging Hamas and have been the subject of a clampdown by the Hamas authorities. Ashraf al-Qedra, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza, said Mr. Mishal was a Hamas government employee and had been working as a security guard at Al Shifa, Gaza’s main hospital. But the Mujahedeen Shura Council is made up of jihadist Salafists, Islamic extremists who have recently been challenging Hamas and have been the subject of a clampdown by the Hamas authorities.
Witnesses said that Mr. Mishal was killed while riding a motorcycle on a road along the Gaza coast. Witnesses said Mr. Mishal was killed while riding a motorcycle on a road along the Gaza coast.
The Israeli news Web site Ynet reported that the assailant — who was identified in Palestinian news media as Salam Zaghal, 24, from the West Bank city of Tulkarm — had been imprisoned in Israel for three years after being convicted of throwing stones, and was released less than six months ago. Ynet added that the assailant’s brother was currently in a Palestinian Authority prison, accused of collaborating with Israel. Mr. Borovsky, the Israeli who was stabbed to death, had been standing at a bus stop at the Tapuah Junction in the northern West Bank when he was attacked on Tuesday morning by a Palestinian man wielding a knife. The Israeli police said the Palestinian grabbed Mr. Borovsky’s firearm and used it to fire at security forces who arrived at the scene. The forces returned fire and wounded the assailant, who was taken to an Israeli hospital.
Although such killings of Israelis have become rare lately, Israeli military officials have noted a rise in tensions in the West Bank over the last six months with an increase in stone throwing and firebomb attacks against Israeli vehicles on West Bank roads. Palestinians began protesting last November against Israel’s actions in Gaza and have since been protesting in support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The Israeli news Web site Ynet reported that the assailant — who was identified in the Palestinian news media as Salam Zaghal, 24, from the West Bank city of Tulkarm — had been imprisoned in Israel for three years after being convicted of throwing stones, and was released less than six months ago. Ynet added that the assailant’s brother was currently in a Palestinian Authority prison, accused of collaborating with Israel.
A 3-year-old Israeli girl has been lying in hospital in critical condition for weeks after her family’s car crashed into a truck that was struck by stones on a West Bank road. Although such killings of Israelis have become rare lately, Israeli military officials have noted a rise in tensions in the West Bank over the last six months, with an increase in stone throwing and firebomb attacks against Israeli vehicles on West Bank roads. Palestinians began protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza in November and have since been protesting in support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Settler representatives noted that an Israeli military checkpoint at Tapuah Junction had been removed a few months ago in line with Israeli government policy to ease movement for Palestinians in the West Bank. A 17-year-old Israeli boy was stabbed by a Palestinian and wounded at the West Bank junction in January and a 3-year-old Israeli girl has been hospitalized in critical condition for weeks after her family’s car crashed into a truck that was struck by stones on a West Bank road.
Representatives for Israeli settlers noted that an Israeli military checkpoint at Tapuah Junction had been removed a few months ago in line with Israeli government policy to ease movement for Palestinians in the West Bank.
Avraham Binyamin, the spokesman for the settlement of Yitzhar, said on Israel Radio, “Wherever the army removes roadblocks, life is lost.”Avraham Binyamin, the spokesman for the settlement of Yitzhar, said on Israel Radio, “Wherever the army removes roadblocks, life is lost.”
After the stabbing attack, dozens of settlers gathered and threw stones at a Palestinian bus and other vehicles near the Tapuah Junction, said Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for the Israeli police. The bus driver was injured by glass, and Mr. Rosenfeld said that five settlers were arrested. There were also reports that Palestinian fields were set ablaze. After the stabbing attack, dozens of settlers gathered and threw stones at a Palestinian bus and other vehicles near Tapuah Junction, said Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for the Israeli police. The bus driver was injured by glass, and Mr. Rosenfeld said five settlers were arrested. There were also reports that Palestinian fields were set ablaze.

Isabel Kershner reported from Jerusalem and Fares Akram from Gaza.

Isabel Kershner reported from Jerusalem, and Fares Akram from Gaza.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: April 30, 2013Correction: April 30, 2013

An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled the name of the man killed in Gaza by an Israeli missile strike. He is Haitham al-Mishal, not Haithan.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled the name of the man killed in Gaza by an Israeli missile strike. He is Haitham al-Mishal, not Haithan.