1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. How many civilians have been killed and injured?

3. For what reason did Palestinian terrorist groups Islamic Jihad and Hamas begin the attacks while peace negotiations are taking place?

4. a) The AP reported that the leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, said in a statement late Sunday that Hamas is “not interested in a new war” with Israel and that the militant group is ready to “return to the state of calm” if Israel stops its attacks “and immediately starts implementing understandings about a dignified life.”
What do you think about Mr. Haniyeh’s demand?

b) Read posts and watch several videos from the Israeli Defense Forces twitter page: IsraeliDefenseForces@IDF.  What is your reaction to the IDF’s posts?

5. Read the “Background” below the questions which explains how/why Islamic Jihad and Hamas fired hundreds of rockets into Israeli towns this weekend. Why do you think some try to equate Israel’s defensive retaliation on Islamic Jihad and Hamas targets with terrorist rocket attacks on Israeli civilians?