Shin Bet Chief Details Post Retreat Security Fiasco To Knesset

2006-01-10

Shin Bet: 3,000 rifles smuggled into Gaza

Dramatic increase of weapons' smuggling from Egypt into Gaza Strip has been noted since Israel's pullout from the area, Shin Bet chief tells Knesset committee; Shin Bet failed to prevent damage to Palestinian olive trees, he adds.

Ilan Marciano

YNET

www.ynetnews.com/ articles/ 0,7340,L-3198300, 00.html

The amount of weapons smuggled from Egypt into the Gaza Strip has increased dramatically since Israel's withdrawal from the region, Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin told members of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tuesday.

"The smuggling of weapons and explosives from Egypt to the Gaza Strip has increased in comparison to the period preceding the disengagement," he said.

"If before the disengagement 200-300 rifles were smuggled a month, today we are talking about 3,000," he added.

According to the Shin Bet chief, terror groups have used the lull to increase their power, including military and Qassam range improvements.

"If the Palestinians are to receive technology assistance outside of Gaza, it would only take a number of months for the terror groups to succeed in significantly improving their rocket range," he said, adding that at present Qassams launched in the PA are able to reach 10-40 kilometers (6-25 miles).

"The Palestinians are preparing terror attacks, also from Judea and Samaria. There are efforts to establish independent systems to manufacture weapons, including Qassams," he said.

A significant increase in terror attacks and attempted bombings against Israel has been noted since the pullout, he explained. In October 48 were registered, in comparison to 277 in December.

Allowing terror groups arms - a time bomb

Diskin also referred to the upcoming Palestinian Authority elections in two weeks, saying that at present Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party has a 10 percent lead, while Hamas is expected to greatly succeed in municipal elections.

Hamas will continue with terror activities after elections in a more sophisticated manner, he said, adding that the Shin Bet believes Hamas should not be allowed to participate in democratic elections.

"Israel must be firm about the disarmament of terror groups and Hamas. If this does not occur, the Shin Bet recommends discontinuing dialogue or not holding contact with the Palestinian Authority," he said. "Allowing them weaponry would be a walking time bomb."

Shin Bet failed in preventing damage to olive trees

Diskin also discussed the recent uprooting of Palestinian olive trees in the West Bank, referring to it as a phenomenon that reoccurs on an annual basis with no effective enforcement.

He added that the Shin bet is aware of who is behind the act and has transferred this information to law enforcement, which has done nothing about it.

"The problem is that there is no effective law enforcement, especially regarding settler youth in the Yitzhar and Itamar area. The defense minister and internal security minister should provide an answer to this problem," he said.

"The Shin Bet has failed in handling the problem. We wanted to take administrative means and failed - the Shin Bet did not conduct it in the best manner," he added.

During the meeting, MK Ran Cohen demanded the Shin Bet "carry out ambushes and fire at offenders in the leg." However, his comments aroused anger among right-wing Knesset members present who demanded he recant his words - which he refused.

According to Cohen, the Shin Bet chief hinted that there are those within the government who have rolled their eyes and have done nothing to put an end to the phenomenon.

"The Shin Bet received warnings regarding the olive trees, which they transferred to the army that did nothing to stop it," he concluded.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis