Palestinian missile attacks from Gaza more doubled in 2008

ISRAEL: Homeland Front commander Maj. Gen. Yair Golan reported to a Knesset panel Feb.19 that 400 Qassam missiles were fired at Israeli civilian locations bordering on the Gaza Strip in the first six weeks of 2008. This brings the monthly rate of fire to roughly 265 - more than double that of the last two years. If this rate is sustained, Sderot and its environs will be assaulted by more than 2,500 Palestinian missiles by the end of this year, compared a total of 1,500 missiles in 2006 and 1,150 in 2007. Already the average has risen. Monday, 16 Qassam missiles exploded on the Israeli side of the Gaza border causing heavy damage and tens of shock victims. (Debka)