Israelis go after rockets in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli tanks crossed into the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday in an operation against rocket launchers, and Palestinian officials said a 17-year-old was wounded in an exchange of fire.

The army said tanks crossed more than 250 yards into northern Gaza and responded with gunfire after they were shot at, including with RPGs. The militant group Islamic Jihad said it fired two RPGs at the troops. The soldiers detained nine Palestinians for questioning, the army said.

Palestinian health officials said the teenager was seriously injured in a gunfire exchange in the town of Beit Hanoun. Residents said the youth was not known as a militant.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s government has been under pressure to respond to recent Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said the government was considering several ways to retaliate, including nonmilitary action. She did not elaborate, but there have been calls for Israel to cut off the supply of electricity, fuel and water to the Gaza Strip.

Olmert’s Cabinet was slated to discuss the matter at a meeting today. But the Cabinet would not vote, as had been planned, on the proposed release of Palestinian prisoners that was meant to be a gesture to the moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Olmert’s office said.

Olmert had offered the release, reportedly of about 100 prisoners, during a meeting between the leaders last week as part of Israeli efforts to bolster Abbas of the moderate Fatah movement in facing its rival, Hamas, after the Islamic group took over the Gaza Strip in June.

On Friday, hundreds of Hamas security forces trained for a possible Israeli incursion into Gaza, firing automatic rifles and shoulder-held grenade launchers in their first extensive exercise since overrunning the coastal territory.

Since confiscating weapons from Fatah during the takeover, Hamas forces are better equipped than during previous Israeli incursions, said senior Hamas official Nizar Rayyan. He said Hamas would kidnap Israeli soldiers if they launched an incursion.

Livni said Israeli action would not necessarily constitute “collective punishment.” She also cautioned that Israelis should not expect that the government will be able to stop the rocket fire completely.

“I think there are a series of actions other than military actions” that Israel can take, Livni told Army Radio.