Jerusalem, July 03: Israel today made its first formal protest over a violation of a truce recently announced by Palestinian militant groups, following rocket fire against a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, a military spokesman said.
The Palestinians opened fire overnight, firing three rockets on the Kfar Darom settlement in southern Gaza, slightly injuring three Israelis, the spokesman said. "We have handed the Palestinians an official protest via the joint coordination and liaison commission", he said, adding that there had been further firing on Israeli positions near the Egyptian border, causing no casualties. On sunday Palestinian factions announced a three-month halt in attacks on Israeli targets. The Israeli army has pulled out of the northern Gaza Strip and handed the West Bank town of Bethlehem over to Palestinian control. The measures came as a boost to the international "roadmap" for middle east peace.

A senior Israeli officer said yesterday that the nascent truce had been fully observed, while warning that violence could resume.

Bureau Report