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Palestinians Learning Lessons from Lebanon, See Missiles as Answer to Israel's Security Fence

[Ha'aretz] Avi Issacharoff - The heavy battles between Hizballah and the Israel Defense Forces have taught West Bank gunmen new lessons - in future battles between Israel and the Palestinians, like in Lebanon, the missile will be victorious. Long- and short-range rockets have aroused great interest among the gunmen, and advanced missiles are promising to be the next hit with the Palestinian terror organizations. Public opinion sees them as the means to change the face of the conflict. The eastern Jerusalem newspaper Al-Quds published a caricature a few days ago of a missile passing through Israel's separation fence. One of the founders of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Khaled Shawish, says the Palestinian organizations are trying to buy sophisticated weapons. "I am talking particularly about RPG missiles that can be widely used in Gaza. The border with Egypt is open enough to bring in missiles, and 'the resistance' produces anti-tank missiles in Gaza," he said. A Palestinian journalist from Gaza noted, "The price of ammunition has dropped because of the large supply. A Kalashnikov bullet cost NIS 40-50 before the Israeli withdrawal, and now it's only NIS 5." An Al-Aqsa activist, Muein from Bethlehem, says, "The brothers in the Dehaishe refugee camp now want anti-tank missiles....We won't fire bullets at Gilo but missiles." He adds that the separation fence will also lose its effectiveness. "What will be the problem for a fighter to sit on the Abu Dis side of the fence and send a missile to the King David Hotel? It is less effort than a suicide attack and...has the same results."
2006-08-07 01:00:00
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