Jihad: We΄ll cease rocket fire if "Israel" stops its aggression

Source: Haaretz, 7-11-2008
The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for a series of rocket attacks on "Israel" on Friday, on the third consecutive day of renewed rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
Gaza militants pounded southern "Israeli" territory on Friday with nine Qassam rockets.
Two of the homemade rockets struck an open field south of Ashkelon, others struck areas in the western Negev. There were no injuries or damages reported in any of the Qassam attacks.
An Islamic Jihad spokesman said the group would consider stopping launching rockets if "Israel" ceased its actions.
"It depends on "Israel", if they stop their aggression and abide by the truce we are ready to consider stopping firing," Abu Ahmed of the Islamic Jihad armed wing said.
Islamic Jihad said its gunmen had launched 14 rockets against "Israel" during the day in response to "Israeli" Army operations in the area.
The rocket fire began in response to a mid-week "Israeli" Army raid on the Gaza Strip that killed six Palestinian militants.
The Army said it carried out the operation after learning Hamas was digging a tunnel between Gaza and "Israel" and intending to abduct soldiers.
The renewed hostilities represent the worst fighting between the "Israeli" Army and Gaza militants since a cease-fire in the coastal territory took effect in June.
On Thursday, Gaza militants fired four Qassams at southern "Israel".
Islamic Jihad militants on Wednesday fired two rockets at the western Negev town (settlement) of Sderot. One of its leaders, Khader Habib, declared the truce over.
"Israel" and Gaza's Hamas rulers sought to contain the fallout from the fighting, but the continued flaring up of violence threatened to unravel it anew.
Neither side seems to have much to gain from a renewal of hostilities, and officials on both sides said they wanted to restore calm.
Hamas, which agreed to the Egyptian-mediated truce, said "Israel" was breaching it. The group also claimed responsibility for dozens of rockets fired at the western Negev on Wednesday.