Sderot

     Defense Minister Amir Peretz, on Sunday declared a "special Home Front situation" as Qassam rockets continued to fall in southern Israel and in light of the estimation that the situation would continue for many days. PM Olmert vows to overcome bureaucratic obstacles, do all it takes to help Gaza vicinity residents. Early Sunday morning, a barrage of five Kassam rockets struck Sderot and the surrounding areas in the course of two minutes. One landed in the yard of a Sderot house, but fortunately, the house was empty at the time. At least 125 Qassam rockets have landed in the western Negev in the past five days, the IDF reported. In the midst of Kassam fire Saturday night, the Sderot municipality held a situation assessment during which they decided that local schools would be closed on Sunday morning. (13,38)