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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| 'Hamas learned lesson from IDF ops' |
| 2008-03-26 |
| "If it becomes clear to Israel that Hamas is exploiting the relative calm to build up its strength, no one can expect us to sit in silence and not react," said National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on a tour that he organized in Gush Etzion Tuesday. Eliezer added that Hamas learned a lesson from the IDF's recent activity and that there is "no doubt that the relative calm is a direct result of recent [IDF] operations in the Gaza Strip. We have an interest in the quiet and in neither of the two sides taking any action. Even so, we are monitoring the amount of Kassams and the amount of arms that are being smuggled through the tunnels." Ben-Eliezer toured the area with MK Uri Ariel (NU/NRP), Gush Etzion Council head, Shaul Goldstein and Kiriyat Arba Council head Zvi Ktzubar. They toured the region in order to highlight the fact that it is located "in the heart of the Israeli consensus." According to Ben-Eliezer, "there are a few places in the country where there is a widening consensus between the Left and the Right. There is no one who would divide Gush Etzion in any possible future government, and in every future agreement it will stay in Israel's hands." Regarding the threats made by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah Monday in a speech marking 40 days since the killing of terror chief Imad Mughniyeh, Ben-Eliezer said he recommends not getting over-excited. "We must stand guard with the full readiness of the army for any future confrontation and ensure that the anti-missile systems that can stop the rockets Hizbullah is manufacturing are purchased or developed." |
| Posted by:Fred |