(Christian Science Monitor) Ben Lynfield - Israel's redeployment in northern Gaza was accompanied by warnings that the troops would be back if the rocket attacks resume - which analysts on both sides say is likely. IDF spokesman Capt. Jacob Dallal said the operation in Gaza was a success. "We really impaired the ability to shoot Kassams from Jabalya. We engaged many cells and now there are fewer Hamas members to shoot rockets....We dealt a hard blow to the whole Hamas infrastructure in Jabalya." However, Avi Issacharoff, author of The Seventh War, a history of the intifada, said, "In a few days, a week, or two weeks, the rockets will resume and we will be back soon in Jabalya." Hassan Kashif, editor of Al-Daar magazine in Gaza City, says of the planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, "Sharon wants to pull out while declaring a victory, while the Palestinian resistance in general and Hamas in particular want to make it appear that he is pulling out because of the resistance."
2004-10-18 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive