(Ha'aretz) Ze'ev Schiff - The IDF's difficulty in putting an end to the firing of Kassam rockets at Negev kibbutzim and the town of Sderot will force the army to expand the area it controls in northern Gaza. The concept is for the local community to learn that there is a price to be paid for allowing Kassam rocket fire from the area. The army will consider withdrawing its forces as soon as the rocket fire halts. In Beit Hanun many Palestinian residents have demanded an end to the rocket fire and Hamas is aware of public criticism against the launches, but according to its strategic concept, Hamas is seeking to prove that the expected Israeli disengagement was the result of Palestinian pressure. Hamas is making major efforts to manufacture more rockets, working around the clock in plants the IDF has not managed to destroy. One operational difficulty is that the rockets are sometimes launched from the backyards of houses. Even if a cell is spotted, the IDF risks hitting the houses.
2004-08-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive