(Jerusalem Post) Margot Dudkevitch - In September 2005, after Israeli troops no longer maintained a presence between Egypt and Gaza, terror groups succeeded in smuggling vast quantities of explosives and weaponry into Gaza from Egypt, the Shin Bet security service reported. Over five tons of explosives, 200 anti-tank grenades, 350 anti-tank rockets, and a number of anti-aircraft missiles were among the arms smuggled from Egypt to terror groups in Gaza during September 12-18 alone. In many instances, members of the Palestinian security forces received bribes in order to "turn a blind eye" to the smuggling of weapons into Gaza, as terror groups continued to strengthen their capabilities in preparation for the renewal of violence, the security agency said. The fact that anti-aircraft missiles have reached Gaza terror groups is cause for concern, having the potential of growing into a far more dangerous threat if the missiles reached terror groups in the West Bank, said the Shin Bet. According to the Shin Bet, Palestinians launched 2,990 terror attacks against Israeli targets in 2005. Motivation among all the terror groups to attack Israel remains high, with the number of monthly terror alerts averaging 57. In 2005 security forces arrested 160 potential suicide bombers in the West Bank, 59 affiliated with Islamic Jihad, 29 with Hamas, 47 with Fatah Tanzim, 14 with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and 11 with other terror groups.
2006-01-02 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive