Fatah terrorist Sami Abed Al Khader Hassan Akilan was apprehended by security forces in PA-controlled Jericho Saturday.
Akilan, 26, from the Shahti slums in Gaza, is a member of the Palestinian Authority's security forces, yet was involved in planning terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. A large-scale attack planned by Akilan in September 2003 was thwarted when the terrorists who had been recruited to carry it out were arrested. In recent weeks, Akilan helped plan attacks that were to be carried out in the near future.
Israel's security forces had requested several times that the PA arrest Akilan for his involvement in terrorism, but each time he was detained only for a short period of time and then released.
Artillery in Response to Kassams
In response to the continued firing of Kassam rockets from Gaza, Israel's Air Force carried out several aerial attacks on roads leading to Kassam launch sites Friday night. "The objective of targeting these access routes is to prevent the passage of terrorists to projectile rocket launching grounds, and to disrupt their repeated attempts to fire rockets at Israel," said an IDF statement.
The standard response of IDF artillery fire toward open fields in northern Gaza continued as well.
Two more Kassam rockets were fired from northern Gaza today (Sunday). One landed near a gas station at Mavkiim, about three kilometers south of Ashkelon, and another one hit near Yad Mordechai. No one was hurt, and no damage was reported.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz said at Sunday's Cabinet meeting that the terrorists can be expected to attempt attacks as the Israeli elections approach. He said he ordered the security forces to step up the pressure against and targeting of terrorists, saying, "We will come right up to the door of their homes." Mofaz said that 20 terrorist activists were arrested in Shechem over the weekend, and two explosives labs were found.
Gaza terrorists fired two Kassam rockets Saturday morning, as Jews awoke to celebrate the Sabbath in western Negev communities. A large explosion was heard in Sderot as one of the rockets landed near the town. No injuries or damage were reported.
Four rockets were fired Friday. Two landed near Sderot, one near Ashkelon and one near Kibbutz Netiv HaAsarah.
Dichter Downplays Kassams
Former Shabak (General Security Services) chief and defense ministerial hopeful Avi Dichter (Kadima) downplayed the steady barrage of Kassam rockets upon Israeli towns in an interview with Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot. "With all due respect to the rocket attacks at Ashkelon, and their moral and physical effects on the resident, most terror casualties are the result of suicide bombings," Dichter pointed out.
Dichter admitted that the Arabs of Gaza were stockpiling heavier weaponry. "They apparently have anti-aircraft shoulder missiles, although in small quantity, as well as Katyushas and light weapons," he said, adding, "I believe it is just a matter of time before they manage to smuggle heavier weapons into Gaza."
Dichter was asked why the Gaza withdrawal was worthwhile, if it was inevitable that Gaza region terrorist groups would obtain heavy long-range weapons. "We are better able to create deterrence in Gaza than what we did in Lebanon," he claimed. "Hamas has turned into the landlord in Gaza, and any infrastructure we may hit in response to Kassam attacks is under its responsibility. Second, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority do not enjoy Egypt's support, unlike Hizbullah, which is backed by Syria. Third, their ability to become stronger in terms of weapons is limited. They have enough manpower, but limited means."