TEL AVIV — Israel has been mulling a technological solution to end
arms smuggling along the Egypt-Gaza border.
Military sources said the General Staff has drafted a plan to bomb the
14-kilometer Egypt-Gaza border. They said the Israel Air Force would use
bunker-busting weapons to destroy weapons tunnels without deploying ground
troops in the southern Gaza strip.
"The bunker-busters would be extremely accurate and not harm nearby
Palestinian or Egyptian communities," a military source said. "It's not the
ideal solution, but could be an interim measure to reduce weapons
smuggling."
[On Monday, Palestinian gunners continued missile fire into Israel, Middle East Newsline reported. One
of the missiles landed near a strategic facility in Ashkelon.]
The military has relayed to the government three options to block
weapons smuggling from
the Sinai Peninsula. All of the solutions involve a medium-term military
presence in the Gaza Strip, something the government of Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert opposes.
Over the last two months, Israel has bolstered its arsenal of
bunker-busters from the United States. Officials said the air force has
sought to replenish its arsenal in wake of the 34-day war with Hizbullah,
which ended on Aug. 14.
"The plan includes detailed reference to the proximity to the Egyptian
border and the surrounding civilian population," the Israeli daily Maariv
said on Oct. 27.
On Sunday, Defense Minister Amir Peretz distanced himself from the
bunker-buster proposal. Peretz said he did not approve or receive the
option.
The military has assessed that about 100 tunnels were operating between
the Egyptian and Palestinian sides of Rafah. The sources said the Hamas-led
Palestinian Authority has been ordering anti-aircraft, anti-tank and
surface-to-surface missiles financed by Iran and Hizbullah.
"The problem there is grave and we can't wait a few more years," Trade
Minister Eli Yishai said on Sunday.
