Hamas begins to fire antitank missiles in West Bank

November 2, 2006, 3:15 PM (GMT+02:00)

 
Exclusive to DEBKAfile's military sources: While the IDF continues Operation Autumn Clouds'? in Beit Hanun, and Qassam rockets continue to fall on Sderot and the Western Negev, Hamas has begun to fire rockets from the West Bank at Israeli targets.

The IDF on Wednesday, Nov. 1, refuted an announcement by the Salah a-Din Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, that on Wednesday morning it had fired a short-range Nasser 1 rocket at the settlement of Migdalim, east of Ariel in Samaria. However, senior officers in Central Command told DEBKAfile's military sources that the Palestinians, for the first time, fired an antitank missile at an Israeli settlement, adding that it had been smuggled into the West Bank from the Gaza Strip or the Sinai Peninsula.

According to the officers, Hamas has devoted tremendous resources to opening a second front by firing short-range missiles at Israeli targets from the West Bank, and has already succeeded in stockpiling a not insignificant'? number of such missiles. The first instance of the firing of such a missile took place early Wednesday morning at 4 a.m., and now it will escalate,'? one officer said.

Another officer said: What we said was that we didn't find the missile fragments in the field. However, just because we didn't find them doesn't mean we don't know what the Palestinians are up to. The missile was definitely fired, and without any doubt this heralds the opening of a new period of warfare in the West Bank and within the Green Line.'?

DEBKAfile's military and intelligence sources report that senior IDF officers are saying that while the political echelon and military brass are still deliberating how to halt or lessen the influx of weapons through Palestinian-made smuggling tunnels along the Philadelphi Corridor and the Egypt-Gaza border, Hamas is concentrating most of its efforts to bringing its assorted weaponry from Gaza to the West Bank. Hamas sees this as a priority, even more than bringing advanced weaponry into Gaza.

Over the past few weeks, the IDF says, Hamas has succeeded in opening another smuggling route from the Sinai Peninsula to the Arava near Eilat. From there the missiles cross the Jordan River into Jordan, then are snuck into the West Bank through the Dead Sea area by Beduin smuggling networks.

Hamas wants to establish in the West Bank and adjoining areas on the other side of the Green Line a zone of live fire similar to what exists along the Gaza Strip security fence. [See DEBKAfile's article from Nov. 1 The Russian-made antitank missile Metis-M9 is returning to the battle field ' this time to the Gaza Strip'?]

A senior officer in Central Command said: Now, after the first firing [of a missile] at Migdalim, the firing of antitank missiles at settlements and Israeli vehicles will escalate in Judea and Samaria. It is only a question of a short time before areas inside the Green Line become targets.'?
 

DEBKAfile -

Heavy Battles in Gaza, Fallen Soldier's Name Released
20:21 Nov 01, '06 / 10 Cheshvan 5767
by Hillel Fendel and Yechiel Spira
 

   Givati Infantry Brigade forces, accompanied by tanks, armored vehicles and aerial support, have engaged terrorists in heavy battle in northern Gaza; ten terrorists and one soldier have been killed.
 

IDF censors have released the name of the soldier killed during the clash with terrorists in Beit Hanoun, the PA-controlled Gaza town from which rockets are fired on Sderot. He is Staff Sergeant Kiril Golenshein, 21, from the agricultural community of Shekef.

Golenshein was shot and fatally wounded by Palestinian Authority terrorists at 2:30AM Wednesday. He was evacuated from the scene, but died a short time later. IDF forces shot and hit at least two of the cell that attacked Golenshein's unit.

The stepped-up military offensive is part of ongoing efforts to bring an end to daily Kassam rocket attacks from the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza towards the western Negev and Sderot areas. Army Radio (Galei Tzahal) reports it is Israel's largest military operation in Gaza since the abduction of Corp. Gilad Shalit more than four months ago.

At least 30 Arabs have been wounded and six killed; Israeli sources report ten dead. Among the dead are terrorists of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others. The Hamas Authority government convened for an emergency situation, calling upon Israel to stop its "slaughter."

An Israeli soldier was killed during the night when terrorists shot him as he entered a building. He received emergency treatment on the spot, but died soon after. IDF soldiers later shot and hit at least two members of the cell responsible for the fatal shooting. The soldier's identity has not yet been released, but his immediate family has been notified.

Gazan terrorists fired four Kassam rockets at Sderot this afternoon (Wednesday), in two separet volleys. Two women were sent to the hospital with shrapnel wounds that were later termed "light," and several people were treated for shock. One rocket caused damage to a factory in the city's industrial zone.

The Security Cabinet met this morning to determine the extent of the operation. Though the army recommended a wide-ranging offensive, only local offensives were approved. Newly-appointed Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman reportedly told his colleagues that Israel should deal with the Kassam-launching cells the same way the Russians dealt with the Chechnyans. Asked to confirm afterwards if he had actually made this recommendation, Lieberman said only that the phenomenon of leaks from governmental meetings must be stopped.

Voice of Israel Radio reported that other ministers are known to agree that Israel must employ a stronger hand against the terrorists in Gaza.

In two separate offensive attacks during the night, the Israel Air Force struck terrorists in the northern Gaza area. In one case, terrorists were detected while placing a bomb.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz continues to emphasize that Israel has no plans to re-take Gaza - despite the call to do just that, or close to it, by leading military personalities.

Quoting intelligence community sources,'? Army Radio reports that the operation will compromise the efforts currently underway towards obtaining Shalit's release, and will delay the formation of a coalition government in the PA between Hamas and Fatah.

Speaking to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert indicated the military will be acting to halt rocket attacks. He also emphasized that the army will not re-conquer Gaza.

Arutz Sheva - Israel National News
 

Maranatha!
Deborah
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