General Assembly Sixty-first session Agenda items 13 and 14 The situation in the Middle East Question of Palestine Security Council Sixty-first year Identical letters dated 14 November 2006 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council I write to inform you of the continuation of violence and rocket attacks against Israel by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip during the past week. From Tuesday, 7 November 2006, through midday yesterday, Monday, 13 November 2006, 42 mortar and Qassam rockets were fired at Israel by Palestinian terrorists operating in the Gaza Strip. Of these, 28 rockets — 23 Qassams and 5 mortars — detonated inside Israel. The Qassam rockets landed in areas of Israel’s south, particularly in the city of Sderot. Five civilians were injured, and numerous others were treated for trauma and shock. The rockets damaged houses, private vehicles, and farmland and equipment. Along with the persistent rocket attacks, the smuggling of weapons has continued at an alarming rate. Since the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza one year ago, 30 tons of military-grade explosives have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip through tunnels, as well as large quantities of arms. The increases in smuggling and rocket attacks against Israel do not serve the interests of peace, nor do they reflect positively on the Palestinian interest in progress and negotiation. I should be grateful if you would have the text of the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 13 and 14, and of the Security Council. (Signed) Daniel Carmon Ambassador Chargé d’affaires a.i.   sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/574 sss2 \* MERGEFORMAT S/2006/887 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/61/574 sss2 \* MERGEFORMAT S/2006/887 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-61543 \* MERGEFORMAT 1 \* MERGEFORMAT 1 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 06-61543 United Nations A/61/574–S/2006/887 General Assembly Security Council Distr.: General 14 November 2006 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 06-61543 (E) 151106 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0661543*