Israel's Former PM Sharon's Sycamore Farm Hit By Pali Missiles

This is, quite simply, out of control. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad continue to batter southwestern Israel with more and more and more missiles with two extended range missiles even hitting the area of former Israel Prime Minister Sharon's Sycamore Farm.
The Israelis living in the southwestern part of the country are screaming at Olmert to stop it and it's my prediction that you will see Israeli troops enter Gaza next week to try and create a buffer at that border. Unfortunately, this is what Hamas and Islamic Jihad want - either for some grander type of attack or more attempts at kidnappings.
Either way, this is going to be a bloody mess.

Here's the full story from DEBKA.

Former PM Sharon’s Sycamore Farm hit by two extended-range missiles from Gaza Friday, 8-mortar barrage on Sufa workmen
January 18, 2008, 2:49 PM (GMT+02:00)

Many flee Israel’s southwest communities for a safe weekend after waking up Friday to an 11-missile blitz from Gaza, another 5 by noon. Israel’s southwestern communities woke up Friday to an 11-missile blitz from Gaza, another 5 by noon. In four days, Palestinians fired 165 Qassam, 76 mortar rounds and one Katyusha rocket
Of the 5 aimed at Ashkelon Friday, two exploded in an industrial zone; five more hit Sderot, one landing outside a nursery school. Another blasted Kibbutz Nir Am’s fruit orchards.
Farmers told prime minister Ehud Olmert when he toured the targeted communities Thursday night they were sitting ducks for Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. Furious citizens accused his government and the army of falling down on their basic duty to provide security for their homes, children and livelihoods.
Thursday night, Barak ordered all Gaza crossings shut and fuel supplies cut down until the Palestinians halted their offensive.
Overnight, five terrorists were killed in air force strikes – 3 Jihad Islami in Beit Lahiya and two Hamas at their base in Gaza City.
In the afternoon, 8 Qassam missiles exploded in Sderot, including the Sapir College. During the day, the Palestinians fired a total of 47 missiles at civilian locations injuring four Israelis and sending 22 shock victims to hospital.
Israeli Air force helicopters went into action over Gaza for the first time when the massive three-day Palestinian missile barrage was in its third day.
They directed heavy machine gun fire on northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun to chase away the missile crews. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that this helicopter action is not capable of fundamentally quelling the Palestinian missile offensive, which is conducted from sites and arsenals buried deep inside the refugee camps of Gaza City. They can only keep some of the crews on the run.
Two volleys of 20 missiles slammed into Sderot and its environs as children were on their way to school in the morning.
DEBKAfile’s military sources report a standoff in the crisis. The extended range of the Palestinian missiles means the launchers are now embedded in the densely-populated camps around Gaza City – the classical terrorists’ human shields. Under current directives from on high, resulting from an undertaking Olmert gave US president George W. Bush last week, the Israeli army may not mount ground attacks on the missile sites if Palestinian civilian casualties are risked.