The announcement took the ministers by surprise, as most of the rockets had not been previously reported. Just a few days ago, it was reported that a katyusha rocket had hit the banana orchards of Kibbutz Eilon in the northwestern Galilee a week beforehand. IDF officials said at the time that there had been no effort made to hide the rocket attack, and that the missile had only been found several days after it hit.
Mofaz said that the rocket attacks were carried out by elements connected with the Palestinian Authority. He said that Israel holds the government of Lebanon responsible for attacks emanating from Lebanese territory, and that the Lebanese have done nothing to prevent the firing of rockets at Israeli targets.
It was not immediately clear whether the heavy Hizbullah barrage of Katyusha rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles at IDF outposts in the Har Dov area in the north this past May, or a Katyusha attack on an Israeli ship this past June, were included in Mofaz's count.
As of a year ago, Hizbullah held three times as many Katyusha rocket launchers as it did when Israel withdrew from Lebanon. Hizbullah represents a significant threat to northern Israel, with its rocket launchers and other weapons aimed at the Jewish towns in the area. Hizbullah has also become increasingly involved with PA terror groups in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha), controlling 44 cells in these areas. An Israeli intelligence official quoted by the London Guardian said that Hizbullah has carried out 62 terror attacks in which 27 Israelis have been killed and 50 wounded.
Mofaz said that the rocket attacks were carried out by elements connected with the Palestinian Authority. He said that Israel holds the government of Lebanon responsible for attacks emanating from Lebanese territory, and that the Lebanese have done nothing to prevent the firing of rockets at Israeli targets.
It was not immediately clear whether the heavy Hizbullah barrage of Katyusha rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles at IDF outposts in the Har Dov area in the north this past May, or a Katyusha attack on an Israeli ship this past June, were included in Mofaz's count.
As of a year ago, Hizbullah held three times as many Katyusha rocket launchers as it did when Israel withdrew from Lebanon. Hizbullah represents a significant threat to northern Israel, with its rocket launchers and other weapons aimed at the Jewish towns in the area. Hizbullah has also become increasingly involved with PA terror groups in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha), controlling 44 cells in these areas. An Israeli intelligence official quoted by the London Guardian said that Hizbullah has carried out 62 terror attacks in which 27 Israelis have been killed and 50 wounded.