By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
Aug 04, 2005
A massive wave of Palestinian Arab terrorism erupting from PLO-controlled areas of Gaza could thwart or at least postpone Israel's planned evacuation of all Jews from the strip later this month, senior IDF officials said Thursday.
Arutz 7 reported that the army, acting on firm intelligence, ?is doubling the number of counter-terrorism forces deployed in Gaza, realizing terror attacks cannot be tolerated while troops are working to expel the area?s Jewish residents from their homes.?
It is believed the ?Palestinians? will try to emulate Hizballah's perceived success in southern Lebanon by making Israel's pullout appear to be a retreat under fire.
The IDF's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in March 2000 with Hizballah ?guerrillas? hot on the Israelis' trail is now widely recognized as having inspired the current Palestinian Arab terrorist campaign.
Maj.-Gen. Dan Harel, head of the IDF's Southern Command, reported this week that July had seen more anti-Jewish ?Palestinian? terror attacks and attempted attacks in Gaza than any other month in the past five years.
Harel told reporters from Channel 1 News there were approximately 500 attacks in July, an average of 17 per day. The Jerusalem Post quoted military sources Thursday as saying that number had not dropped much in the past few days, despite Palestinian Authority pledges to ensure the ?disengagement? does not take place under fire.
In light of the threatening situation, the IDF's General Staff is urging the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to approve a major air and armored assault against Gaza-based terrorists prior to the evacuation of Jewish civilians, Middle East Newsline reported.
Senior officers warned that mortar and rocket attacks during the transfer of thousands of people could result in mass casualties, and will certainly provide the terrorists with a moral victory.
?If we withdraw from the Gaza Strip without destroying the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure, we will have handed Hamas and Islamic Jihad a huge victory that would guarantee greater attacks,? one officer said.
Under intense US pressure to not jeopardize the end of Israel's presence in Gaza, Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz is said to have dismissed the army's assessment and suggested course of action.