(17 May 2007) SHOTLIST
Sderot, southern Israel
1. People gathered at gate of factory, large smoke plume rising in the distance
2. Closer view of billowing smoke plume rising behind trees and building, with Israeli soldiers and emergency workers nearby
3. Mid of security with smoke plume in background
4. Ambulance crew and ambulance at scene
5. Three Israeli soldiers walking towards smoke plume
Near Kibbutz Be'eri
6. Pan of artillery in a field
7. Soldier standing on artillery piece
8. Close-up of barrel elevating
9. Wide of field with artillery
Sderot
10. Various of Israeli soldiers unloading emergency electricity generators
11. Female soldier stepping off bus, joining other female soldiers
12. Female soldier putting on helmet
13. Wide of Sderot residents in the mayor's office complaining that they haven't been evacuated yet
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rabbi Yehiel Ekstein, founder of International Fellowship of Christians and Jews:
"Here we called the mayor in light of the situation and the bombardments in the past few days, and we said 'What do you need? How can we help?'. We had asked already a year ago if we can help with shelters, and he said 'No', because that's the government's responsibility. Meanwhile, there are no shelters is the bottom line and so the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews gave an answer to him within two hours. He said he needs shelters, we're going to provide shelters."
15. People waiting in mayor's office
STORYLINE
Rockets continued to fall on southern Israel on Thursday, one setting a local factory on fire, as Israel pounded Hamas targets with airstrikes in the nearby Gaza Strip.
Six people were killed and dozens wounded in the airstrikes as Israel stepped into intense factional fighting between rival Palestinian Hamas and Fatah groups.
The airstrikes came on the fifth day of internal violence that appeared to be crushing the Hamas-Fatah unity government, formed just two months ago, along with any hope of renewed peacemaking with Israel.
Up to now, Israel has remained on the sidelines during internal Palestinian fighting. However, Israeli security officials said the military had to respond to the rocket attacks on Sderot.
In all, 45 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting since Sunday, including three on Thursday.
Israel's airstrikes further complicated the chaotic situation in Gaza.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cancelled a trip to Gaza, where he was to have bolstered a new truce deal in talks with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army on Thursday positioned artillery pieces in southern Israel, two kilometres (1.3 miles) north of the coastal strip.
AP Television News filmed half a dozen 155 millimetre howitzers being deployed on Thursday on farmland near Kibbutz Be'eri.
The gun crews were busy off-loading the big guns from transporters and digging in to positions.
During previous rounds of fighting between Israel and Gaza-based militants, artillery fire has been used to cut off access to areas from which rockets can be launched at Israeli towns.
Witnesses said five Israeli tanks crossed about 200 metres (yards) into northern Gaza, a pinpoint operation in an area where they have operated frequently in the past.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
The Israeli government had promised a 'harsh' reaction against Palestinian rocket fire, and launched three airstrikes into Gaza City on Thursday.
More than 50 rockets have fallen on the southern Israeli town of Sderot in the last three days, fired into Israel from Gaza.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
