Tension is escalating between Israel and resistance groups in Gaza and the West Bank following a suicide bombing in Netanya, reports Erica Silverman Amid baskets of oranges and a collage of colourful prayer mats, the sermon of the Friday prayer emanated from a mosque in Jabalya Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip where Hamas enjoys tremendous popularity. The sheikh outlined the characteristics of a "just leader," asking, "May God take our leaders from the best of our community." Predawn Monday, three days later, Gaza City was rocked by five sonic booms, shattering windows and doors throughout the city. Once again, tensions are rising between the Palestinians and the state of Israel. Later that morning a Palestinian from the West Bank blew himself up outside a shopping mall in the coastal town of Netanya, killing five and injuring over 60. Immense shards of blue glass came crashing down from the powerful blast. The Sharon Mall was previously bombed on 12 July 2005 and on 18 May 2001. Five people and the bomber were killed in each attack. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility in retaliation for Israeli assassinations of its leaders, and for what it describes as Israel's continued aggression against the Palestinian civilian population. There have been three suicide bombings carried out against Israelis this year, Jihad claiming responsibility for all of them. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, convening an emergency meeting Monday evening with top officials from key security agencies, pledging to find those responsible. After a relatively calm month, violence between Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza has begun escalating again. According to Palestinian news sources, predawn Sunday Israeli helicopters launched an air strike targeting a charitable organisation run by Jihad, Al-Ihsan, and a metal workshop in the centre of Gaza City, smashing the windows of surrounding buildings. An elderly couple was rushed to hospital with shrapnel wounds from the blast. Israel also targeted Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, but no injuries were reported. Sunday night, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades launched a number of rocket attacks from Eastern Gaza at the Sufa crossing and other targets in the Negev desert that landed in an open area. According to Al-Aqsa, the attacks came as response to Israeli threats to target their leaders and those of Islamic Jihad. Also Sunday night, Palestinian news sources reported that Israeli tanks fired several rounds of shells into Khan Younis, and predawn Monday Israeli tanks positioned close to the East Gaza border fired several rounds of shells into the Abu Safiya area in Northern Gaza. In response to the Netanya attack, Israeli Radio reported on Monday that Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz had ordered a resumption of targeted assassinations of Palestinian leaders in Gaza. Israeli artillery fire will now be directed at densely populated areas in Gaza from where rockets are being fired into Israel. Haaretz newspaper reported that the Israeli army would use loudspeakers to advise Palestinian residents to clear the area before they open fire. West Bank operations against Jihad will also be expanded. Meanwhile, preparations continue ahead of 25 January, when Palestinians will cast ballots in the Legislative Council elections. Islamic Jihad will not participate. Hamas, however, is positioning to form alliances based on its platform with factions across the entire Palestinian political spectrum. According to Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zhouri, "Hamas' goal is to end the occupation. The occupation is not legitimate according to international law, and it is our right to demand an end to the illegitimate occupation." Nearly two weeks ago, Gazans gained control of their southern frontier for the first time. On 25 November, the Rafah terminal -- along the shared Egyptian border -- opened. Roughly 1,000 Palestinians have been transiting between Gaza and Egypt per day. In theory, all Palestinians holding a valid identification card are permitted to cross, although Egyptian specifications have mostly been limited to those with invitations from family in Egypt, students, and travellers carrying foreign visas. Israel has hastily accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) of violating the recently signed "Agreement on Movement and Access" between the PA and Israel, for which the EU is the overseeing third party. Israel claims 15 wanted Hamas members crossed the Rafah terminal and entered Gaza, including Fadel Zahar, senior leader and brother of Mahmoud Zahar, who was deported by Israel in 1991. Israel threatened to increase economic sanctions, further debilitating Gaza's shattered economy. PA Civil Affairs Minster Mohamed Dahlan, the top Palestinian official at the Rafah border, said only four or five Hamas members crossed. In an effort to ensure the success of the agreement, Dahlan launched an inquiry into personnel at the crossing suspected of violating the terms of the joint PA- Israeli arrangement. He also made a surprise visit to the crossing, touring the different departments and listening to reports from officials stationed at the crossing, after he received complaints of fraud and mismanagement. Dahlan has created one central command to oversee the multiple security forces at the crossing, and one channel of communication with Egyptian authorities to eliminate corruption. Abu Zhouri claimed the 15 Hamas members did not enter Gaza, and that "[Rafah] is a Palestinian- Egyptian crossing and it is not the right of the occupation forces to object to anyone entering or exiting Palestine; the PA clearly stated through Mohamed Dahlan that all Palestinians have the right to cross the border, and we abide by the PA's position." A joint liaison office is located at Kerem Shalom where two Palestinian officials, two Israeli officials, and two EU observers are stationed in the same room, and to which live camera images are delivered and database information is accessible. Technical difficulties, however, are delaying data transfer by five minutes. The goal is to make the transfer in real time, but realistically it will be a two-minute lag, explained EU spokesperson for the Rafah mission, Julio De LaGuardia. "All installation and monitoring of equipment was done by a US contractor, not the EU. It is the responsibility of the US contractor who is still on-site trying to resolve these issues," De LaGuardia told Al-Ahram Weekly. On 1 December, US Ambassador Richard Jones, EU officials -- including commanding officer Italian Major General Pietro Pistolese -- officials from the Israeli Defense Ministry, and Dahlan met at the US Embassy in Tel Aviv in a bid to restore faith in the agreement. All four sides are meeting continuously to resolve on-going problems. At present, there are 30 EU observers at the crossing, and 74 will be in place by the end of the month. According to the agreement, the EU does not have a mandate to detain a passenger. If Israel identifies a passenger as "high risk" the EU can request that the PA police detain the individual. There is a period of up to six hours allowed for negotiation, during which the Israelis must produce evidence that the individual should not cross, such as a criminal record. If proof is provided, the EU can ask PA officials at the liaison office to deny the individual passage, though ultimately the PA makes the decision.
