PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE CONTINUED AS FOUR PALESTINIANS DIED IN SEPARATE ISRAELI SHELLINGS INTO NORTHERN GAZA, FROM WHICH MILITANTS HAVE FREQUENTLY FIRED ROCKETS INTO THE JEWISH STATE, PALESTINIAN MEDICS AND SECURITY SOURCES SAID. THE ARMY CONFIRMED THE FIRST SHELLING, WHICH KILLED A PALESTINIAN FARMER, BUT CALLED THE LATEST INCIDENT, WHICH KILLED THREE PALESTINIAN MEN IN THEIR HOME, AN INTERNAL BLAST. HAMAS'S POSITION TOWARDS ISRAEL HAS TRIGGERED AN AID BOYCOTT THAT HAS BROUGHT THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TO ITS KNEES. RAISING THE STAKES, ABBAS ON THURSDAY GAVE HAMAS 10 DAYS TO BACK A PLAN FOR A PALESTINIAN STATE ALONGSIDE ISRAEL OR FACE WHAT WOULD AMOUNT TO A CONFIDENCE VOTE.
