Reuters reported today that IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Sha\'ul Mofaz had accused the Palestinian Authority of becoming a terrorist entity. He accused the PA of:
* stockpiling weapons smuggled by sea and underground tunnels to use in a Palestinian revolt;
* amassing small arms, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles and mortar shells, some of which have been used in recent attacks against Jewish communities in Gaza.
* helping to escalate the violence in the past few weeks, in that \"more and more Palestinian policemen, and more and more people from the security agencies from the Palestinian side, are taking part in the terror activity and in the circle of violence.\"
Palestinian security sources have denied that they have mortar shells or heavy weapons. Reuters noted, however, that Israeli television stations have broadcast footage of mortar attacks on at least two Jewish towns in Gaza.
Arutz-7\'s Ariel Kahane spoke today with Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yigal Pressler, advisor to several past Prime Ministers on terrorism matters. \"Is there anything that civilian motorists can do against shooting attacks of the type that happened today?\" Kahane asked, and Pressler responded:
\"There is much that can be done, but nothing that will act like magic to ensure that such attacks don\'t happen. It would be advisable, for instance, not to travel in single cars - I don\'t say that we must return to the days of convoys, but two cars traveling together are generally not shot at; more buses and vans must be made bulletproof and must be used more often... From the army\'s standpoint, there must be a three-pronged approach: First thwart [specific attacks], then general defense, then a war on terrorism. We must retaliate against those who shoot at us; we need not call it \"liquidations\" but we must definitely retaliate. Many IDF forces must be brought into the area, including Civil Guard duty by the residents.\"
\"Yesterday,\" Kahane said, \"after the terrorist attack near Atarot, a police officer said we should not travel on that road. What do you think?\" Pressler said, \"This is not good - because the next day there will be attacks on a different road. We must show the Arabs that we are here and that we are not giving in to them.\"
On another matter, Pressler said that Barak and Sharon conduct regular security briefings, and that \"every unusual security mission is decided upon in consultation with Sharon.\"
* stockpiling weapons smuggled by sea and underground tunnels to use in a Palestinian revolt;
* amassing small arms, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles and mortar shells, some of which have been used in recent attacks against Jewish communities in Gaza.
* helping to escalate the violence in the past few weeks, in that \"more and more Palestinian policemen, and more and more people from the security agencies from the Palestinian side, are taking part in the terror activity and in the circle of violence.\"
Palestinian security sources have denied that they have mortar shells or heavy weapons. Reuters noted, however, that Israeli television stations have broadcast footage of mortar attacks on at least two Jewish towns in Gaza.
Arutz-7\'s Ariel Kahane spoke today with Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yigal Pressler, advisor to several past Prime Ministers on terrorism matters. \"Is there anything that civilian motorists can do against shooting attacks of the type that happened today?\" Kahane asked, and Pressler responded:
\"There is much that can be done, but nothing that will act like magic to ensure that such attacks don\'t happen. It would be advisable, for instance, not to travel in single cars - I don\'t say that we must return to the days of convoys, but two cars traveling together are generally not shot at; more buses and vans must be made bulletproof and must be used more often... From the army\'s standpoint, there must be a three-pronged approach: First thwart [specific attacks], then general defense, then a war on terrorism. We must retaliate against those who shoot at us; we need not call it \"liquidations\" but we must definitely retaliate. Many IDF forces must be brought into the area, including Civil Guard duty by the residents.\"
\"Yesterday,\" Kahane said, \"after the terrorist attack near Atarot, a police officer said we should not travel on that road. What do you think?\" Pressler said, \"This is not good - because the next day there will be attacks on a different road. We must show the Arabs that we are here and that we are not giving in to them.\"
On another matter, Pressler said that Barak and Sharon conduct regular security briefings, and that \"every unusual security mission is decided upon in consultation with Sharon.\"