The famous right-wing campaign, "Why Did You Give Them Guns?" [where You = the Rabin/Peres governments, and Them = the Palestinian terrorists] may now have to be changed to "How Are They Getting Their Explosives?"
The number of victims of Palestinian terrorism during this 26-month Oslo War felled by bullets is approximately equal to the number of those murdered by explosives. The army announced recently that over the course of a few days this month, the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza had used or attempted to use close to 2,000 tons of explosives against Israeli targets. These included a double-explosive of no less than 160 kilos near Morag in Gush Katif, another 40-kilo charge near Kibbutz Re’im, and more. Many Israelis are asking if the Arab supply of explosives can ever be stopped and what is its source.
The hareidi-sector newspaper HaModia reported recently that a main source of Palestinian explosives is Gaza, where smuggling through underground tunnels from Egypt and old minefields from previous wars provide an ample supply of explosives. In Judea and Samaria, however, explosives are somewhat harder to get, and must be smuggled in from Gaza, manufactured by Arab chemists inside Yesha, and sometimes even purchased from criminals who steal the stuff from army bases.
The PA's very own Preventive Security Organization in Gaza has set up a factory for producing large quantities of nitric acid, the most important chemical in making explosives. This information appears on a secret PA document seized in an IDF raid last week. Most of the chemicals used to produce the homemade explosives are acquired from Israel, notes Ha'aretz, but of late the Palestinians have managed to produce explosives with near military-grade efficiency. Correspondent Ze'ev Schiff reports that the Oslo Accords strictly forbid the PA from acquiring or producing such explosives.
Israel banned the importation of nitric acid to the Palestinian territories about a year ago, but smuggling of the chemical from Israel continued with ease. The IDF says that despite its warnings, the government has not implemented measures to identify buyers of the chemicals and the purpose of the purchase.
Another approach to the problem was tried today. IDF forces operating in a village east of Shechem found explosives in a home - and blew up the building.
The number of victims of Palestinian terrorism during this 26-month Oslo War felled by bullets is approximately equal to the number of those murdered by explosives. The army announced recently that over the course of a few days this month, the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza had used or attempted to use close to 2,000 tons of explosives against Israeli targets. These included a double-explosive of no less than 160 kilos near Morag in Gush Katif, another 40-kilo charge near Kibbutz Re’im, and more. Many Israelis are asking if the Arab supply of explosives can ever be stopped and what is its source.
The hareidi-sector newspaper HaModia reported recently that a main source of Palestinian explosives is Gaza, where smuggling through underground tunnels from Egypt and old minefields from previous wars provide an ample supply of explosives. In Judea and Samaria, however, explosives are somewhat harder to get, and must be smuggled in from Gaza, manufactured by Arab chemists inside Yesha, and sometimes even purchased from criminals who steal the stuff from army bases.
The PA's very own Preventive Security Organization in Gaza has set up a factory for producing large quantities of nitric acid, the most important chemical in making explosives. This information appears on a secret PA document seized in an IDF raid last week. Most of the chemicals used to produce the homemade explosives are acquired from Israel, notes Ha'aretz, but of late the Palestinians have managed to produce explosives with near military-grade efficiency. Correspondent Ze'ev Schiff reports that the Oslo Accords strictly forbid the PA from acquiring or producing such explosives.
Israel banned the importation of nitric acid to the Palestinian territories about a year ago, but smuggling of the chemical from Israel continued with ease. The IDF says that despite its warnings, the government has not implemented measures to identify buyers of the chemicals and the purpose of the purchase.
Another approach to the problem was tried today. IDF forces operating in a village east of Shechem found explosives in a home - and blew up the building.