…Islamic Jihad leader Khader Habib recently told an audience that the Palestinians must rise up and a launch a third Intifada. In addition, he said that Palestinians must line up behind the resistance and jihad to free Palestinian prisoners.

Well, it seems that Islamic Jihad’s Secretary General, Ramadan Shallah, did not want to be left out.

Palestine Today reports that in a recent speech, Shallah called on Palestinians to “further the way of Jihad and resistance until the liberation of Palestine and release of all Palestinian prisoners.”

Update: It appears that a major rally took place today in the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon today, Ein Al-Hilweh. During the rally, an Islamic Jihad official called for an “escalation of jihad.” Specifically, the official called on people to kidnap Israeli soldiers to force Israel to release more Palestinian prisoners.

Representatives from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, the Amal movement, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and others partook in the rally.

The trips have a number of goals including, but not limited to, strengthening Hamas’ ties with Arab states, reinforcing the legitimacy of Hamas and bolstering Haniyeh’s personal status.

In addition to Qatar, Haniyeh will visit Bahrain, Iran and Kuwait. The visits to Kuwait and Qatar should not be all that interesting. The trip to Iran, on the other hand, will be.

Over recent months, Iran has slowed, if not ceased, its funding of Hamas. This void has reportedly been filled by Turkey, while Iran has turned towards Islamic Jihad.

Nonetheless, Iran will surely do all it can to keep its hand in the game and remain relevant. The question now is whether or not Hamas will decide to fully let go or latch back on to the Iranian regime.

In other news, Hamas’ Khaled Meshal met with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Sunday. I reported on the rapprochement last week.  During the meeting Jordanian officials repeated that they will not allow Hamas to reopen its offices in the country. Nonetheless, Hamas officials said the meeting was “extremely positive and excellent.” Yet, Meshal’s visit,which was scheduled to last three days, was cut short, as he left Jordan on Sunday. Hamas and Jordanian officials have offered no explanation as to why Meshal’s visit was cut short.

Update: Haniyeh will reportedly ask Qatar to fulfill its promise from 2006 to provide Gaza with a $17 million sports facility.

Update: Haniyeh has arrived in Qatar.

His call for a third Intifada came at event in which Palestinians expressed solidarity with Islamic Jihad’s Khader Adnan who is currently engaged in a hunger strike in an Israeli jail. In addition, those at the rally expressed support for the Hamas members recently arrested by Israel.

Habib also called on Palestinians to reject the “futile negotiations” between “the usurper” [Israel] and the “absurd power” [Palestinian Authority].

So, who may help out with this new Intifada? Well, Habib has also recently called for full integration between Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Interestingly, this call came just a few days after Hamas attacked a group of Shiite worshippers in Gaza. In his report on the incident, Avi Issacharoff noted that “becoming Shi’ite is a growing trend in the Gaza Strip: Hundreds of Sunnis, both Islamic Jihad activists and ordinary people, are known to have converted.”

Now Palestine Press, aligned closer to Fatah, has reported on a video posted to YouTube in late November. In the video, reproduced below, two men claiming to be part of Islamic Jihad are seen burning a photo of Hamas’ founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. According to the men, the video is a response to Hamas members burning photos of Islamic Jihad’s founder Fathi Shakaki.

According to Palestine Press, internet users have slammed the video saying it was created by Israel in an attempt to divide Palestinians. The report also notes that Islamic Jihad has not commented on the video, thus raising questions as to its credibility.

I do not know if the video is fake or real. In any case, this will certainly be an interesting item to watch over the coming days.

A Palestinian boy looks up as Islamic Jihad militants take part in a rally marking the 16th anniversary of the killing of Fathi al-Shiqaqi, the movement's founder, in the northern Gaza Strip November 4, 2011. The militants have accused Israel's spy agency Mossad of assassinating Shiqaqi in Malta in 1995. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

[source]

An Islamic Jihad militant holds a weapon as he takes part in a rally marking the 16th anniversary of the killing of Fathi al-Shiqaqi, the movement's founder, in the northern Gaza Strip November 4, 2011. The militants have accused Israel's spy agency Mossad of assassinating Shiqaqi in Malta in 1995. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

[source]

Why don’t I hear any “human rights activists” decrying this child abuse?

She should tell that to the victims of tonight’s barrage of rockets.

Some 20 rockets and mortar shells were fired from Gaza into southern Israel on Saturday, seriously wounding a man in Ashkelon who eventually died of his wounds, and lightly hurting two others in Ashdod and Gan Yavne rocket strikes.

Four rockets exploded in Ashdod, one directly hitting a residential building and lightly wounding a man. Another rocket hit a school, but caused no casualties.

An hour afterward a rocket hit an Ashkelon home, seriously wounding a man who was transferred to Barzilai hospital where he later died of his wounds.

One rocket exploded in Gan Yavne, lightly wounding a 40-year-old man who sustained shrapnel wounds to his legs. Several trauma victims were also reported.

A short time later, a Qassam rocket fell in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, and three mortar shells landed in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no casualties or damage.

After several hours, two more rockets exploded in an open area west of Be’er Sheva, and no casualties were reported.

As a result of the escalation, school was canceled in Ashdod, Ashkelon and other towns in the 40-kilometer range from Gaza. Ben Gurion University in Be’er Sheva also called off classes, which were due to begin on Sunday.

Incidentally, the terrorists fired the rockets supposedly in retaliation for us killing five Islamic Jihad terrorists who had fired a Grad rocket at Be’er Tuvia on Wednesday night and were ready to mount another attack.

Here’s video of the terrorist squad preparing to fire rockets.

And here’s video Islamic Jihad released showing them firing rockets.

Israel needs to stop this once and for all.

Photo: Avi Rokach

Ok, I’ve tried to avoid getting into this situation, but it seems many people are expecting me to cover the latest war being waged against us here in Israel. And sure, I’ve expressed my concerns about retaining my sanity if I start attempting to blog updates, but, heck, at least I do not have rockets raining down on me (yet).

I’ll do my best to keep you updated, but am not sure how regularly I’ll be posting updates. So I’ll include a Twitter widget with updates and you’ll have the latest news and links when I am not providing my own.

Note: When posting updates, it won’t be of the solely “newsy” variety. I can’t help but include my brand of punditry and snark.

Spread the word.

You can also find updates over at The Muqata.

10:22PM: Despite reports of a ceasefire, the rockets keep coming.

8:40PM: Hamashole speak with forked tongue:

Hamas official: Gaza militants agree to cease-fire

Hamas fires phosphorus bomb at southern kibbutz

5:22PM: PMO Spokesman Ofir Gendelman posted on his Twitter feed that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu “has instructed the IDF to target only Palestinian terrorist organizations and to avoid collateral damage as much as possible.”

5:15PM: What a mensch!

Actor John Voight has visited rocket attack victims at Beersheba’s Soroka Medical Center

During the visit, Voight said that he has come to witness and report to the American people the harsh reality faced by the residents of southern Israel. He added that he was amazed to see that terror victims were hospitalized next to residents of Gaza and Hebron

5:08PM: Photo of the Day: Subtle, isn’t he?

An Egyptian protester holds an anti-Israel slogan near the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011. Hundreds of Egyptians protested against the deaths of Egyptian security forces killed in a shootout between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants on Thursday in the Sinai. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

5:00PM: From the Boy, Were They Wrong Department:  

4:50PM: More on our peace-loving Egyptian neighbors.

4:05PM: This would almost be funny but for the fact it isn’t.

Hamas Foreign Minister Mohammed Awad has been conducting talks with various contacts in international and regional organizations in an effort to stop Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian news agency Ma’an reported on Sunday.

According to the report, Awad contacted the United Nations several times.

What is sadder is the fact the UN will likely act to stop Israel.

3:45PM: From the IDF Spokesperson blog earlier today:

2 rockets hit so. of Ashkelon, Israel, threatening 112,900 Ashkelon residents; city Pop. = 1/3 of Florence, Italy Pop.

3:25PM: Our “peace partner” Jordan has condemned palestinian terrorists targeting of innocent civilians Israel’s targeting of terrorists in Gaza.

1:18PM: Some of the palestinian-fired rockets have landed in Egypt. No word yet on whether Egypt expects us to apologize.

1:15PM: Clearer footage of Egyptian Flagman.

1:08PM: The IAF has struck Gaza, targeting a terror cell about to fire rockets at Israel.

12:00PM: The man killed in last night’s rocket attacks on Be’er Sheva was on his way to his nine-month pregnant wife after hearing air raid sirens and becoming concerned for her safety.

11:38AM: Here’s another news item from the Theater of the Absurd:

Hamas has been holding talks with the Islamic Jihad over the weekend in an effort to convince the terror organization to stop firing rockets into Israel and resume the de facto truce that has been in place for two years, Egyptian daily Al-Ahram reported on Sunday.

This comes hot on the heels of Hamas taking responsibility for firing grad rockets at Be’er Sheva.

Do as we say, not as we do?

11:15AM: Anti-Israel cartoonist Carlos Latuff has created the following cartoon depicting the Egyptian who took down the Israeli flag from our Cairo embassy as a super hero.

As one of his commenters states “This drawing pix is now the facebook profile for most Egyptians.”

11:05AM: Another head-scratching news ticker update from Ha’aretz:

Islamic Jihad leader travels to Cairo in attempt to return calm to region (Ch. 10)

Yes, I’m sure their goal is calm in the region.

10:28AM: You’d think CNN could find a better image to illustrate a report on our predicament, say an image that doesn’t make us look like the aggressors.

Then again, this is CNN.

10:22AM: Egypt is not happy with our statement expressing regret for the border deaths of five of their policemen, killed during exchanges of fire with terrorists. 

Ok, I guess it is too much to expect them to express condolences for the Israeli lives lost during the terror attack, but to demand an apology from us?

Meanwhile last night, Egyptian protesters removed the Israeli flag from our embassy in Cairo..and were quite happy about it.

Peace!

10:05AM: More than 100 rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel during the past 3 days. And that’s not including the multi-staged terror attack near Eilat, which claimed the lives of 8 people.

9:38AM: Update from the Ha’aretz news ticker:

Spain FM: It is time to recognize Palestinian state (Ch. 10)

Sends a clear message, doesn’t it? Fire more rockets into Israel, and you can accelerate the process towards getting your state.

But we already knew Spain has a terror appeasement policy, so no surprises there.

9:35AM: So far this morning, terrorists have fired rockets and mortars towards Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva, with the Iron Dome system successfully shooting down 4 of them.

One rocket hit a school building in Be’er Sheva, causing no injuries as students “Israeli soldiers” are currently on summer break.

New hotness: Maimi Jihad

What PR value is there in a military display that includes crippled and injured operatives? According to the Islamic Jihad’s website, the military wing recently held maneuvers in which veteran members of the Jihad who had been injured over the years in battles with Israeli forces had a starring role.

The maneuvers included sights not usually seen on the battlefield, one-legged men carrying Kalashnikov rifles or RPG launchers while leaning on crutches or sitting in wheelchairs.

According to armed factions in Gaza the display is a PR demonstration that strengthens their activities within the Palestinian internal political system.

The Islamic Jihad has puffed up its position against Hamas as the group spearheading the struggle against Israel. The organization has gone all out on a PR campaign to glorify its fighters in the Gaza Strip – the height of the campaign is their latest exhibition maneuver.

“Bombing us and leaving us amputees will not stop the Jihad,” the military wing’s website quoted one militant, Abu Abdallah who lost both his legs in clashes near Khan Yunis. “We will continue to fight even when our bodies are torn to pieces.”

The website quotes another militant, Abed al-Rahman whose leg was cut off in “an IDF strike”. “We trust in the Jihad way and we will not change it. There is no alternative to Jihad and resistance, until all Palestinian land is freed from the criminal Zionists,” he stressed. According to al-Rahman, even when he was being rushed to hospital after he was injured, he promised himself that he would return to the Jihad path upon his release

Based on the photos, it is extremely doubtful that the maneuver participants are capable of fighting, but through the images and the maneuver itself the Islamic Jihad is looking to show the Palestinians their tenacity. “The injury has damaged my body but not my will,” summarized al-Rahman.

Gives the expression “A call to arms” a whole new meaning.

Here’s hoping they get new recruits. Regularly.

Relatives cry as the body of Islamic Jihad militant Sabri Asaliah arrives to his home from the morgue during his funeral in Jabalia city in the Gaza Strip, on March 27, 2011. An Israeli air strike killed two Gaza militants, threatening to prompt more tit-for-tat attacks, a day after militants committed to calm if Israel reciprocated. THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images

That’s right. She’s mourning her relative – an Islamic Jihad terrorist dedicated to the murder of innocents and ultimately the destruction of Israel.

What the caption does not tell you is that we hit the terrorists as they were trying to launch a rocket or mortar at Israel, despite the caption’s claim of a commitment to calm.

Taking out the terrorists will not prompt anything except perhaps the cowards thinking twice before firing rockets again, and residents of Israel resting a bit easier for a little longer.

This was no tit-for-tat. This is a matter of taking out those trying to kill us.

Photo: Yasser Okbi/Israel Post

Today, I woke up to be greeted with the news that Gaza-based Hamasholes had fired a Grad rocket at Be’er Sheva, not long after one hit near Ashdod.

Beer Sheva - Population: approx 200,000

Ashdod – Population: approx 200,000

Sirens could be heard as a Grad rocket exploded early Wednesday morning in a private yard of a residential area in Beersheba.

No deaths were reported in the blast, however one 56-year-old man was injured moderately in his chest by flying debris when he witnessed the grad’s explosion from his 3rd story window. He was treated by paramedics who arrived on the scene. Three others were treated for shock.

Only hours before, a Grad rocket launched from the northern Gaza Strip exploded south of Ashdod. There were no reports of injuries or damage to property.

An air raid siren was heard throughout Ashdod. Security forces were attempting to locate the rocket.

Be’er Sheva schools are to remain closed today as a result of the attack.

Even though the terrorists have been firing rockets in to Israel since we unilaterally left Gaza in 2005, they will no doubt claim these latest attacks are in response to yesterday’s Israeli strike, which left at least 9 palestinians dead.

A strike which itself was in response to mortar fire attack on Israel.

At least nine Palestinians, including four civilians, were killed on Tuesday in separate IDF attacks against targets in the Gaza Strip, marking the bloodiest day in a week of escalating violence in the South.

On Tuesday evening, the IDF spotted a terror cell in the midst of preparing to launch a long-range rocket into Israel.

The IDF attacked the cell, killing four known terrorists who military sources said were behind the Grad-model Katyusha attack on Beersheba last month.

In the afternoon, IDF troops shot mortars into Gaza and accidentally hit innocent civilians in the northern town of Sajaya. The troops fired the mortars after they came under mortar fire from a terror cell that was spotted in a field near the town.

Palestinians reported that four people – aged 58, 12, 16 and 17 – were killed in the strike.

The IDF said that the Southern Command was investigating the incident, but stressed that Hamas was responsible for choosing to operate from within populated areas.

Later Tuesday night, an official IDF spokesperson announcement said that IDF aircraft fired on a terrorist in the northern Gaza Strip. The statement said the terrorist was planning to send rockets in the direction of Ashdod.

A short time earlier, four Kassam rockets exploded in open fields in the Sha’ar Hanegev region. No injuries or damages were reported.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued a statement Tuesday night “expressing regret” at the loss of innocent life in Gaza, saying it was accidental.

According to the statement, Netanyahu stressed that the IDF mortar-firing had been a reaction to Hamas shelling of Israeli civilians.

“It is unfortunate that Hamas continues to rain down dozens of rockets on Israeli civilians intentionally, while using [their own] civilians as human shields. Israel has no intention of bringing about a deterioration of the situation, but at the same time, the IDF will continue to act decisively to protect Israeli citizens,” the statement read.

Hamas said in a statement that it would respond strongly to Israel’s actions.

On Tuesday morning, the IDF thwarted an attack after a tank crew spotted a group of terrorists preparing to fire an anti-tank missile. The tank opened fire and hit the group.

According to the Palestinians, 19 people were wounded, including four terrorists, in an air strike the IAF carried out on Monday night.

Hamas and several other Palestinian groups threatened on Tuesday to avenge the deaths of the Palestinians killed by IDF gunfire in the Gaza Strip, while the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank strongly condemned Israel.

Hamas’s renewed threat came only a day after the movement said it was interested in preserving the unofficial cease-fire with Israel.

Note the differences between the terrorists and Israel.

• The terrorists deliberately target civilian population centers. Israeli targets those firing rockets at Israel who happen to operate near civilians.
• The terrorists desire the loss of innocent life, both Israeli and even palestinian (the latter makes Israel look bad). Israel expresses regret at the loss of innocent life

Updates (Israel time; Latest from top)

2:25PM: Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to expected to convene his national security council to decide what the heck to do about the rocket fire. 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday addressed the ongoing rocket and mortar fire coming from the Gaza Strip and IDF artillery and air strikes in response. He was expected to convene his national security council before departing for Russia Wednesday evening.

“The IDF is acting and will act against the terror organizations in Gaza,” the prime minister said. “We will firmly and decisively defend our citizens.”

Netanyahu added, “No country would be prepared to absorb the firing of rockets on its cities and citizens.”

“Perhaps it will come to exchanging blows, it may continue for some time, but we are very determined to take away the terrorist organizations’ ability to harm our citizens.”

12:05PM: Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for the Grad rocket that fell at 5:30 am, stating ”This is an initial reaction to the Zionist crimes against our people in Gaza.”

9:50AM: Another rocket reportedly exploded in Be’er Sheva minutes ago, following 7 mortar shells striking the western Negev earlier in the hour. Meanwhile, Ynet seems confused.