Avi Dichter, who heads Israel’s General Security Service (Shabak), appeared before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today and spoke out unambiguously against aspects of PM Sharon's withdrawal plan.
Leaving northern Samaria and removing the IDF presence there will "turn the region into Gaza" in terms of terror activity, according to Dichter, while leaving the Philadelphi Route will "bring southern Lebanon to southern Israel."
The the only way to protect cities within Israel’s pre-1967 borders is to maintain an Israeli presence throughout Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza), Dichter said, adding that the firing of mortar shells and rockets can be stopped only by forces on the spot. He said, however, in answer to a question by Shinui MK Ettie Livneh, that he sees no security necessity in having a Jewish civilian presence in Gaza.
Dichter told the committee that the upcoming PA election is not likely to change the level of terrorist activity in the PA-controlled areas. "It was, and will remain, a place of refuge for terrorists," he said.
The Shabak head also warned of at least five anti-aircraft rockets already in the hands of Gaza terrorists. He further warned that the IDF's presence along the Philadelphi Route - the Israeli-Egyptian border in southern Gaza - is integral to preventing terror organizations from smuggling even more sophisticated weaponry from Egypt.
MK Uri Ariel (National Union), a member of the Knesset committee, pointed out that Dichter’s words were reminiscent of the Shabak chief’s warnings prior to Israel’s withdrawal from the southern Lebanon security zone in 2000 – which proved correct. Back then, Dichter warned that a withdrawal from the security zone in southern Labanon would inspire widespread terrorist activity amongst the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
MK Ariel implied that Prime Minister Sharon wishes to obscure the security dangers inherent in the implementation of his disengagement plan.
Likud MK Ehud Yatom said he would ask Sharon once again to reconsider his plan, "in light of Dichter's warning that northern Shomron will become terror-land. Places like Afula, Hadera and even Netanya will be targets."
Leaving northern Samaria and removing the IDF presence there will "turn the region into Gaza" in terms of terror activity, according to Dichter, while leaving the Philadelphi Route will "bring southern Lebanon to southern Israel."
The the only way to protect cities within Israel’s pre-1967 borders is to maintain an Israeli presence throughout Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza), Dichter said, adding that the firing of mortar shells and rockets can be stopped only by forces on the spot. He said, however, in answer to a question by Shinui MK Ettie Livneh, that he sees no security necessity in having a Jewish civilian presence in Gaza.
Dichter told the committee that the upcoming PA election is not likely to change the level of terrorist activity in the PA-controlled areas. "It was, and will remain, a place of refuge for terrorists," he said.
The Shabak head also warned of at least five anti-aircraft rockets already in the hands of Gaza terrorists. He further warned that the IDF's presence along the Philadelphi Route - the Israeli-Egyptian border in southern Gaza - is integral to preventing terror organizations from smuggling even more sophisticated weaponry from Egypt.
MK Uri Ariel (National Union), a member of the Knesset committee, pointed out that Dichter’s words were reminiscent of the Shabak chief’s warnings prior to Israel’s withdrawal from the southern Lebanon security zone in 2000 – which proved correct. Back then, Dichter warned that a withdrawal from the security zone in southern Labanon would inspire widespread terrorist activity amongst the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
MK Ariel implied that Prime Minister Sharon wishes to obscure the security dangers inherent in the implementation of his disengagement plan.
Likud MK Ehud Yatom said he would ask Sharon once again to reconsider his plan, "in light of Dichter's warning that northern Shomron will become terror-land. Places like Afula, Hadera and even Netanya will be targets."