Shin Bet: 70 Tons of Explosives Entered Gaza Since IDF Op

by Barak Ravid
Haaretz
March 30, 2009

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/884/shin-bet-70-tons-of-explosives-entered-gaza-since

Tons of military-grade explosives and raw materials for making rockets have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip since the end of Operation Cast Lead, Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin told the cabinet yesterday.

Diskin's briefing follows reports in the international media that Israel carried out three air strikes against targets in Sudan that were involved in smuggling Iranian-supplied arms to Hamas in Gaza. Diskin told the cabinet that Egypt has gradually improved its operations along the border with Gaza, but he said this was not enough.

"There are certain successes," Diskin said. "When there is intelligence [from Israel], the Egyptians respond quickly and effectively, but there has still been no halt to the smuggling."

Diskin presented a frightening picture in which the following arms and materials have been smuggled into the Strip through Sinai since the three-week Gaza operation ended in January: 22 tons of military-grade explosives; 45 tons of raw materials used for producing armaments, particularly rockets; dozens of military-grade rockets; hundreds of rounds of mortar shells; and anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

Diskin noted the drop in the number of rockets fired at Israel in recent weeks; he said Hamas was trying harder to prevent such attacks.

"Hamas is not interested in an escalation in the current circumstances and is therefore taking action to stop the shooting," Diskin said. "They even carry out arrests of militants firing rockets and have reached an agreement with Islamic Jihad on the group ending its attacks."

According to Diskin, Hamas has failed to achieve its goals: agreeing on a cease-fire with Israel, Palestinian reconciliation, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. "Hamas is debating how to emerge from this stalemate," Diskin said. "They are weighing whether to shift to a popular-protest mode against Israel's siege or to return to terrorism."

Despite efforts by Hamas to ensure calm, Diskin says a few small groups in Gaza continue to try to attack Israel.

"We have intelligence on intentions of groups in the Gaza Strip to carry out attacks and kidnappings," he said. "There is also a rise in efforts to carry out attacks in Israel through Sinai, and they are trying to encourage militants in the West Bank to carry out attacks in Israel."

Diskin provided a pessimistic prognosis on the reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah, saying the two sides do not appear to be able to bridge their differences.

He pointed out that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is preparing to set up a new government headed by Salam Fayyad after an expected failure of the talks.

"There is no chance of an arrangement between Hamas and Fatah at this time," Diskin said.

Sanctions on prisoners

Also yesterday, the cabinet voted to impose sanctions on Hamas prisoners held in Israel, as part of efforts to pressure the Islamist organization to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held captive in Gaza since June 2006.

The spokesman of Hamas' military wing, Abu Obeida, threatened that the move would strengthen the Islamist group.

The decision "exposes Israel's distress," Abu Obeida said, adding that it would "only strengthen the organization's insistence on the conditions set for Shalit's release."

Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann recommended stripping the Palestinian prisoners of all privileges not anchored in Israeli or international law, such as education, television, newspapers and radio.

The Israel Prison Service announced at the weekly cabinet meeting that the recommendations will go into effect in the near future. The sanctions will include drastic limitations on family visits and the revocation of the opportunity to take high school matriculation exams or study at the Open University.

In addition to sanctions on entertainment media, the prisoners will be subject to stricter guidelines regarding the transfer of money for use at the prison canteen.

During the meeting, Friedmann briefed the cabinet on legislation that would have to be put in place for further steps to be taken. "It is true that we are the only democracy in the Middle East, but we can't let ourselves become the only suckers and we mustn't show weakness," Friedmann said.

Before the meeting, Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit said that "it is unconscionable that Shalit is living there without being able to see his parents, while Hamas prisoners are living here almost like in summer camp."

Mounir Mansour, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners Committee, said yesterday that the Hamas prisoners were considering taking extreme measures in response, including an unlimited hunger strike in every Israeli prison. The prisoners' families have also said they are ready to take steps to identify with the prisoners.

Mansour told Israel Radio that the prison service began revoking privileges several days ago, before the cabinet approved the move, especially at the prison in central Israel. Their belongings were seized, Mansour said, they were prevented from seeing their families, they were not allowed to watch several Arabic-language television channels and several prisoners were put in solitary confinement.

According to Mansour, these steps will not expedite Shalit's release, but will only exacerbate tensions at the prisons.

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