Israel to begin cutting Gaza power, fuel in coming days

        Israel will in the coming days begin cutting electricity to the Gaza Strip as a response to Qassam rocket fire, after Defense Minister Ehud Barak gave final approval to the defense establishment plan on Thursday. In the first phase, Israel will disrupt electricity to various areas in the Strip, and will also limit the supply of fuel to Gaza. Decisions regarding the implementation of the sanctions will be taken in accordance with developments. Early Thursday morning, Palestinian militants fired two Qassam rockets toward the western Negev. Both rockets struck open fields in the southern town of Sderot, causing to injuries or damage. Thursday afternoon, four mortar shells struck near the Sufa checkpoint on southern Gaza's border with Israel. There were no injuries. Also Thursday, two Hamas militants and an Islamic Jihad member were killed by Israel Defense Forces fire in two separate incidents in the Gaza Strip.(18,12)