On Monday a senior IDF Intelligence officer told the above-mentioned Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that a withdrawal from Gaza will reduce Gaza-based terrorism, "but the terrorist organizations will present it as a victory for terrorism - and their conclusion will be to increase terror in Judea and Samaria."



The officer said that the recent offensive in Rafiach had been only partially successful, in that arms-smuggling efforts are seen to be gradually moving to other areas, and only 44 of 200-300 active terrorists were killed - "and none of those who were killed were senior terrorists." It was announced today that a weapon-smuggling tunnel was uncovered last night in a yard on the outskirts of Rafiach. This was the 15th such tunnel uncovered since the beginning of 2004.