18/11/2012 BBC Weekend News

Israel says it's prepared to expand its operation against militants in

Gaza. It strikes more targets, as the death toll among Palestinians

rises. Israeli civilians in fear as Hamas continues its rocket attacks.

Jaguar Land Rover strikes a deal to make cars in China. Women facing

the stained glass ceiling, the church prepares to discuss their

ordination as bishops. And a century from Alistair Cook, as

England try to salvage a draw in Good evening. Israel says it is

prepared for what it's calling a significant expansion of its

operation against militants in Gaza. Today had stepped up its campaign

against Hamas militants with over 120 air strikes. Palestinian

officials said the death toll in Gaza today was at least 20 people,

including nine children. Several people were also injured in Israel

from over 50 rockets fired from Gaza. Ben Brown is in Ashkelon for

us now. All day we've seen and heard

Roberts being fired from Gaza into Ashkelon and other towns like it in

southern Israel. You can see these flats behind the, they were hit by

a rocket. Two people were injured. A few miles away across the border,

it has been the bloodiest day so far in the five days of fighting be

seen. We have to report the seething. On a moment, the

situation in Israel. First, we have this report from Gaza. Israel has

chosen its targets in Gaza today selectively, but with devastating

Across Gaza, the homes of at least seven Hamas military officials were

hit in massive explosions. Regardless of who may have been

inside. Israel repeatedly described its attacks on Gaza as surgical

strikes. This was a family home in the heart of Gaza City, which was

flattened in an air strike earlier this afternoon. Several civilians

have been killed, others are missing. Frantically they dug for

survivors. But no one could have come out of this alive. A senior

Hamas official and his entire family of 10 were killed here today.

Sure, if Israel keep doing this with civilians, you will see more

people died. Israel is targeting Hamas officials it accuses of

hiding amongst civilians. The number of civilians, particularly

children, being killed or injured in the air strikes and rages

Palestinian feelings even more. At this house in the north of Gaza

City, a one-year-old boy and his three-year-old sister were killed

in an Israeli air strike. Just two of 20 fatalities of the conflict in

Gaza today. Israel also hit two buildings where international and

local media have their offices. One journalist had his leg blown off.

Another justifiable attack, said Israel, because Hamas was using

communication and Chennai on the roofs. -- antenna. No one knows

when this will end, but more people were killed today than on any other

day of this short, brutal conflict. Panic in Ashkelon as the air raid

sirens go off once again. People here have seconds to find shelter.

They are so close to Gaza. These vapour trails are Israeli

interceptor missiles, flying up to destroy some of the rockets fired

from Gaza. But not all of them. This block of flats took a direct

hit. The Robert smashing through the roof, damaging flats on three

floors of the building. It struck just before 8:20am. The owner is

originally from Kazakhstan and was lucky to have been at work. She

believes the only way to end all this is for Israeli troops to

invade Gaza. And Leverett. Like the Russians did in Chechnya. Just near

by, we came across a family who decided they'd had enough. Leaving

town for somewhere further away from the Gaza Strip. But their

mother is staying behind to look after their home here. Despite all

the danger. This is where one of the rockets landed in Ashkelon.

Dozens were fired into Israel today from the Gaza Strip, making it

increasingly likely the government will decide to broaden its

offensive in Gaza. This afternoon, Israeli Defence Minister visited

soldiers manning the missile defence system near Tel-Aviv. At

his side, the United States ambassador showing his support, but

also likely calling for restraint in the hope a ceasefire can still

be negotiated. Israeli troops and armour are already massed on the

border with the Gaza Strip, ready to invade. Something the

international community desperately wants to avoid. There is one

glimmer of hope this evening, which is that we know that there is an

Israeli delegation that's arrived in the Egyptian capital, Cairo,

possibly to try to negotiate a ceasefire to end this fighting.

Whether that will happen or not, we simply don't know. But there is

growing international pressure on the Israelis from people like

President Obama, David Cameron, not to escalate this fighting any more

with a ground invasion of Gaza. The Liberal Democrats say they are

determined to pursue a property- based tax on wealthy homeowners.

The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, says talks with his Conservative

colleagues in the coalition are ongoing, but it's thought two of

the options on the table are more stamp duty on expensive houses of

more council tax bands to cover bigger properties. There is a

taxing issue for those at the top of the coalition. Both the

Conservatives and the Lib Dems know they have to do more to bring the

deficit down. But Nick Clegg's party want new property taxes on

the wealthy as a price to agreeing further cuts and welfare. It is

right that we do tax... Proper tea is obvious. You us. One of the

reasons is not simply because it's fairer, it's because property can't

run of Monaco and Mich and style. - - Clinton style -- Liechtenstein.

There are other options including increasing taxes on the sale of

expensive homes and reforming the council tax. In England there are

currently eight council-tax bands which were set back in 1991,

ranging from properties worth less than �40,000, to homes with a value

over �320,000. In Wales in 2003, an additional band was added so that

those in the most expensive properties would pay more. You

might think it will be simple enough to do the same in England.

Here in west London, flats, never mind houses, are worth more than �1

million. So the occupants were the prime target of any attempt to

introduce new higher council tax bands. But I'm told the Chancellor

isn't yet convinced that the whole process would be anything other

than costly, intrusive and complex. There are 23 million properties in

England compared to just over 1 million in Wales. So revaluing

properties in England in order to set new council tax bands would

clearly be more costly, and they could be a political price to pay,

too. Introducing new council tax bands would more than likely hit

the number of people who bought a modest properties at a modest prize

in the early 1990s, who now happen to simply find themselves

fortuitously in what on now rather expensive properties, even though

they may still be doing the same job and earning the same modest

wage. The Treasury says it will be clear that the Chancellor is

committed to making the wealthy pay more when he delivers his mini-

budget next month. The question of how to do so is yet to be resolved

with his coalition partners. Jaguar Land Rover has reached a deal to

manufacture cars in China. It is joining forces with the Chinese

company Chery, in a �1 billion joint venture, and will begin

production at a new factory near Shanghai in 2015. One of the best

known companies in Britain is setting up shop in China. It is

building a new factory there, in partnership with the leading

Chinese carmaker, Chery Automobile. It will produce some of the firm's

top flight models, as well as a new design tailor-made for the local

market. So why is a car maker based in Coventry so keen to do business

in China? A few years ago it sold hardly any cars there at all. Now,

about one in five vehicles it produces has a Chinese buyer. In

fact, since the start of the year, sales there have gone up by 80 %.

As China's vast population gets ever richer, there's plenty of room

for growth. Jaguar Landreau but is still a small company, they need to

grow in size quite dramatically. China should help them to do that

to make this Investment sustainable. It is important for the firm making

a success of it. The new factory will be the company's first proper

manufacturing base outside the UK. But Jaguar landlubber, which is

owned by the Indian giant Tata, suggests -- rejects suggestions it

could start moving production away from Britain. -- junk -- Jaguar

Land-Rover. In China, the reason they are buying the products is

because of the British heritage. We are seen as a premium western brand

that people want to buy. Jaguar Land Rover isn't the only leading

western brand looking to China for growth, as traditional markets

become increasingly crowded. But with a population of 1.3 billion

and an economy that is growing rapidly, there is unlikely to be a

shortage of customers there any time soon. There's been a matter

which has divided the Church of England for years, but this week

history could be made as the General Synod decides whether to

allow women to become bishops. The new Archbishop of Canterbury is in

favour of the move, but the vote is thought to be on a knife-edge. Its

buildings are almost as old as its traditions. But this week, a

lengthy debate on women bishops will finally be clarified. Francis

Maude, the Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, is one of the most

senior women in the church, amongst the first women to be ordained a

priest in 1994, she says the issue is one of relevance. The time now

is right and we do need take this step. We need to be a church that

is speaking to the issues of the nation and being there as the

Church of England in this society today. Our credibility will be shot

through if we don't pass this on Tuesday. We are fearful that this

decision... Its two decade since the Church of England voted to

ordain female priests. The rhetoric then, as now, was sincere, strident,

occasionally scurrilous. The church is now overwhelmingly accepting of

that momentous move. Its congregations at least one to the

General Synod to take another defining decision. Most of the

congregation here and indeed in the wider Church of England are in

favour of women bishops. The Archbishop of Canterbury have --

has warned of turmoil in the church unless the measure is passed. His

successor, the Bishop of Durham, is also supportive. But that does not

mean that Tuesday's vote will go their way. Some parishes opposed to

women bishops are fighting for guarantees from the church. They

want the theological object and recognised, promises that it could

be led by a male Bishop even if the General Synod ordains women.

believe that God made us equal, but he also made us different. The

church, which is the family of God, should be taken by men.

complicated voting system requiring supporters of women bishops to get

two-thirds majorities, is creating huge uncertainty over the outcome.

Divine intervention is therefore being supplemented by phone calls,

reflecting an online petitions. -- An unbeaten century for captain

Alastair Cooke has given England a slim chance of salvaging something

on the final day of the first Test against India. He battled the rout

the day, taking the tourists to 3445 - a lead of 10 runs. There was

no shortage of local expertise, tips for England on how to bat

through the day. It is much harder when there is a bore. Compton fell

early, Jonathan Trott was lured by a left arm of spin. But how to

explain Kevin Pieterson? His effort to prove he could command this sort

of bowling, he tied himself in an awful lot. Alastair Cook stood tall.

He completed his century in the morning, the 21st of his England

Test career. The encouraging thing for England is Alastair Cooke's

powers of concentration only seemed to be enhanced by captaincy. But he

can't do it alone. On 199, two wickets in two balls were taken.

Perhaps Ian Bell would have liked a replay. But India don't like the

decision review system so it's not used here. Mark Priam rarely misses

a chance to be positive. England could do with a few more of him.

Alastair Cooke just kept on being himself. Faultless decision-making,

leading England into a lead. 168 not out. The highest score for an

England captain in India ever. Whilst he is there, anything is

seen as possible. Sunderland are celebrating their second Premier

League win of the season after beating Fulham 3-1 this afternoon

at Craven Cottage. Stefan Sessegnon scored the pick of the goals, and

the first of his season for Sunderland. The home side were

forced to play the majority of the match with 10 men, after Havilland

was sent off. Motherwell have leapt up to fourth in the Scottish

Premier League after thrashing Inverness Caledonian Thistle 5-1.

The home side scored just after the break of 82-1 before Commins put

paid to any hopes of an Inverness come back with this strike. It is

Inverness' first defeat in 10 games. Carl Froch has said he is ready for

any body after seeing off American challenger use of Maktu retained

his IBF world super-middleweight title. He outclassed his opponent

in front of a home crowd in Nottingham last night. A vicious