IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz, speaking at an army induction center this morning, reviewed the events of the current terrorist war against Israel and described his assessment of the situation:
\"Over the last few days, there has been a sharp escalation in terror attacks under the direction of the Palestinian Authority. Since September, in my opinion, Arafat has given a \'green light\' to mass killings in Israeli cities - this trend is being accelerated. There is now an unprecedented number of assaults against Israeli targets... I said beforehand that at least 57 of the Israelis murdered [in the current warfare] were victims of terrorist activity perpetrated by the various security arms of the Palestinian Authority and [Arafat-controlled] Fatah... We must erect an \'iron wall\' to protect the citizens of the State of Israel and annihilate terrorism.\"
The Chief of Staff related to the PA\'s obligation to apprehend Arab terrorists: “The Palestinians arrest wanted terrorists just for show…the \'arrested\' terrorists are kept in safe remote houses and depart from there to carry out terrorist attacks. In short, there is no serious attempt to end the violence on the part of the Palestinians.”
Since September 2000, according to the Chief of Staff, there have been more than sixty terrorist attacks inside the pre-1967 lines of the State of Israel alone, with a sharp increase in warfare since February. At the same time, the IDF and other security services have apprehended more than 1,000 Arab terrorists and killed or injured tens of others.
\"Over the last few days, there has been a sharp escalation in terror attacks under the direction of the Palestinian Authority. Since September, in my opinion, Arafat has given a \'green light\' to mass killings in Israeli cities - this trend is being accelerated. There is now an unprecedented number of assaults against Israeli targets... I said beforehand that at least 57 of the Israelis murdered [in the current warfare] were victims of terrorist activity perpetrated by the various security arms of the Palestinian Authority and [Arafat-controlled] Fatah... We must erect an \'iron wall\' to protect the citizens of the State of Israel and annihilate terrorism.\"
The Chief of Staff related to the PA\'s obligation to apprehend Arab terrorists: “The Palestinians arrest wanted terrorists just for show…the \'arrested\' terrorists are kept in safe remote houses and depart from there to carry out terrorist attacks. In short, there is no serious attempt to end the violence on the part of the Palestinians.”
Since September 2000, according to the Chief of Staff, there have been more than sixty terrorist attacks inside the pre-1967 lines of the State of Israel alone, with a sharp increase in warfare since February. At the same time, the IDF and other security services have apprehended more than 1,000 Arab terrorists and killed or injured tens of others.