Terrorists reap 'disengagement' benefits

Terrorist weapons experts flowing into Jew-free Gaza Strip

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By Ryan Jones
January 09, 2006

A senior security official confirmed for Ha'aretz Sunday that ?Palestinian? terror groups are taking advantage of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip to import advanced know-how in long-range weapons and explosives for use against Israel's Jews.

Whereas Gaza-based terrorists previously relied smuggled computers or the Internet and their less than adequate ability to interpret the information found there, the killers are now able to hone their skills through first hand training.

A significant number of terrorists trained at Iranian-backed camps in Syria and Lebanon have made their way into Gaza since Israel turned over control of the Strip's Sinai border to the Palestinian Authority and Egypt in September, the official said.

Israel received a full range of assurances from the PA, Egypt and the international community that the Gaza-Sinai border would not turn into an open gateway for terrorists and terrorist arms following the withdrawal. Washington put Jerusalem under tremendous pressure to accept those assurances.

But just hours after the border was turned over, thousands of ?Palestinians? made their way into Sinai and back without hindrance. Defense officials believe a great number of small arms, mortar shells and rockets were smuggled into Gaza during the ensuing days of anarchy.

Even after the PA purportedly imposed order along the international boundary weeks later, several well-known terrorist leaders relocated to Gaza with no interference from either Egypt or the regime of PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas.

Many Israeli politicians and defense officials warn Gaza is transforming into a terrorist haven on par with pre-US invasion Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Israeli control of the Gaza-Sinai border and the presence of thousands of Jewish residents in 21 prosperous towns and villages providing thousands of jobs to local Arabs had previously held terrorist activity in the area in relative check.

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