ISRAEL CLOSES BORDER CROSSING AFTER PALESTINIAN ROCKET STRIKES:

 Israel announced the closure of its Gaza border crossings on Thurs. 14 Dec. 2017 in response to daily rocket fire from the enclave since USA President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital stoked Palestinian anger. Israeli aircraft struck three facilities belonging to Hamas before dawn on Thursday after the latest rocket attacks. The military said in a statement that "due to the security events and in accordance with security assessments” Kerem Shalom crossing - the main passage point for goods entering the Gaza Strip, and the Erez pedestrian crossing - would be shut as of Thursday. It did not say how long the closure would last. Some 15 rockets have been fired into southern Israel since Trump’s 6 Dec. 2017 announcement, and none of the projectiles has caused serious injury or damage. The attacks have drawn Israeli air strikes that have killed two Hamas gunmen. Two other Palestinians have been killed in confrontations with Israeli troops during stone-throwing protests along the border. (Reuters)