Diskin: Hamas Missiles can Hit Outskirts of Be'er Sheva

by Barak Ravid
Haaretz
December 22, 2008

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/511/diskin-hamas-missiles-can-hit-outskirts-of-beer

Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin said yesterday that Hamas is capable of firing rockets that can strike as far from Gaza as the outskirts of Be'er Sheva and other targets in the Negev.

Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Diskin said Hamas had given free reign to the other factions and had also renewed firing. He said Hamas wanted to continue the cease-fire but wanted to improve its conditions. "It wants us to lift the economic siege and stop attacking, and expand the cease-fire to Judea and Samaria," Diskin told the ministers.

The Shin Bet chief also said that Hamas' military wing had used the six-month lull to improve its firing capabilities of mid- and long-range rockets and mortars. "They are ready for a confrontation. They can reach Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, and even the outskirts of Be'er Sheva," he said.

Diskin said Hamas would use long-range rockets only if circumstances warranted it, such as an Israeli strike against "significant strategic assets." He added that Hamas' political echelon is worried about an Israel Defense Force response, because "it is afraid to lose assets."

According to Diskin, Egypt is not currently an effective intermediary between Israel and Hamas, due to a lack of faith between Egypt and Hamas. He also said that various European groups wanted to interceed to restore the lull. But the Egyptian intermediary should not be discounted. "If at some point Hamas needs Egypt to intercede, Egypt will be back in the game," he added. Diskin told the ministers that "Hamas' immediate goal is the desire to take over the whole Palestinian Authority." However, Diskin also said: "Don't be impressed with support for Hamas in the West Bank. The mood of the Palestinian population there is 'God willing, Israel will take Gaza, and we'll get rid of Hamas.'"

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