By Avi Issacharof and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Tuesday that Israel is concerned about the continued strengthening and arming of Hamas and is following developments closely.
During a visit to the Israel Defense Forces Gaza Division, Peretz said Hamas is taking advantage of the cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Palestinians to continue stockpiling arms.
"We are definitely doing everything in order to preserve the cease-fire," said Peretz, but added that Israel has "no reason to turn [Hamas']strengthening into a real threat to Israel."
Peretz refused to rule out a military operation in the Gaza Strip. "Every solution that protects the citizens of Israel is possible," he said. "We prefer a diplomatic solution, but where that doesn't work out, we will also conduct military operations."
IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, who accompanied Peretz on his visit, said one of the principle Gaza threats that concerns the IDF is the digging of booby-trapped tunnels by Palestinian organizations.
A Qassam rocket hit an open area south of Ashkelon Tuesday, causing no injuries. In Nablus, the IDF continued its large-scale operation "Hot Winter," which is focusing primarily on carrying out arrests in the casbah.
Three women's bodies found in Gaza in under 12 hours
The bodies of three woman were discovered in the Gaza Strip over the course of 12 hours on Tuesday, in what appear to be unrelated murders.
The body of 31-year-old Gaza City resident Ibtisam Abi Gaynes was discovered on the Beit Lahia beach in northern Gaza on Monday night.
Several hours later, passersby found the body of 45-year-old Samira A-Dabeiki. According to her husband, he last saw her on Monday afternoon when she went out to do some shopping.
Tuesday morning, the body of 40-year-old Amani al-Husari was found in the Sheikh Redwan neighborhood. According to her son, armed gunmen who identified themselves as police burst into their home on Monday night and abducted his mother.
Meanwhile, Palestinian security forces discovered the body of Abdul Majid Abu Suheiben, who apparently was a smuggler, in a collapsed Rafah tunnel. The tunnel collapsed Monday, and two of those inside managed to survive.
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2 comments:
Of course they will stockpile weapons whenever they can - they are still an insurgent group and have never claimed they are not an insurgent group - they are not a non violent group and have never claimed to be a non violent group. It is UTTERLY RIDICULOUS to suggest that they will not stockpile weapons at any opportunity. Why would they be expected not to stockpile weapons - UNLESS there was a peace agreement. There are no peace talks involving Hamas either directly or indirectly. Only a CEASE-FIRE - what about the phrase "Cease-fire" does Minister Perez fail to understand? A cease-fire is a temporary thing in the middle of a war - not a peace.
Perhaps the blown up buses, cafes and queing teenagers are quickly forgotten in the UK, particularly behind the veneer of elections, however that does not make Hamas any less of a terrorist group.
I doubt Minister Perez misunderstands anything about the situation, though. Even the most unsuitable Defence Minister Israel has ever had, is likely to be fully aware of the nature of Hamas' strategy and I assume that your words of understanding will equally apply to the inevitable actions in Gaza which Israel will deem neccessary eventually.
The middle of a war indeed. And no end in sight.
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