TEL AVIV — Israel's military has been developing plans for a major
offensive in the Gaza Strip.
"The current situation is extremely dangerous with Hamas ordering
advanced systems that were used by Hizbullah in the war," a military source
said. "We're not stopping the smuggling of these systems from Egypt."
Officials said Hamas has received advanced Russian-origin anti-tank,
anti-aircraft missiles and explosives over the last few weeks. They said
Hamas plans to use the Iranian-supplied weapons to develop an army similar
to that of Hizbullah in Lebanon.
Over
the last day, at least five Kassam missiles were fired into Israel, Middle East Newsline reported.
The advanced explosives were said to have been placed into Kassam-class,
short-range missiles fired into Israel from the northern Gaza Strip.
Officials said these explosives increased the power of the Kassam's warhead
in nearly daily strikes on such Israeli cities as Ashkelon and Sderot.
The General Staff has renewed plans for a permanent presence in the
southern Gaza Strip in an effort to halt arms smuggling to the Hamas-led
Palestinian Authority. Military sources said the options included the
capture of the Egypt-Gaza border and the neighboring town of Rafah, said to
contain up to 100 weapons tunnels that reach the neighboring Sinai
Peninsula.
Over the weekend, about 1,000 Israeli soldiers were sent to capture the
14-kilometer Egypt-Gaza border. In September 2005, Israel withdrew from the
Gaza Strip.
Officials said Egypt has failed to reduce arms smuggling from the Sinai
Peninsula to the Gaza Strip. They said the recent Egyptian announcements of
weapons seizures were meant to respond to Israeli and U.S. concerns over the
lack of border security.
"The situation in Gaza is worsening and requires extremely precise and
decisive reaction from Israel," Israeli Tourism Minister Yitzhak Herzog
said.
On Sunday, the Cabinet discussed Israeli military options for the Gaza
Strip. A special session on the issue was expected on Oct. 25.
"The objective would be to prevent Hamas from replicating what happened
with Hizbullah in Lebanon," former Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yom-Tov
Samia said. "This would have to take place in the coming days or weeks."
[On Monday, Israeli military units battled Palestinian insurgents in the
northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources said at least seven Palestinians
were killed.]
Officials said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has not decided on a long-term
military operation in the Gaza Strip. They said Olmert, under U.S. urging,
has ruled out a significant Israeli military presence in the strip.
"Action must be taken without hesitation," Trade Minister Eli Yishai
said. "Any hesitation is dangerous and we must act immediately. When we left
the Philadelphi corridor [Egypt-Gaza border], I said that abandoning it is a
doorway to hell. We might have to find a way to take over the Philadelphi
route."
"Gaza is a problem," Pensioner Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan said. "I
think we must seize the Philadelphi route. Other than that, I think we
should treat the Gaza Strip on a case-by-case basis and not take over the
Gaza Strip again. We should seek for the Egyptians to cooperate with us on
both sides of the border. If this does not happen, we should think twice
whether to stay or not in the Philadelphi route."
