ISRAEL: Israeli army deploys along Egyptian border to prevent weapons smuggling.

Record ID: 398534

  • Title: ISRAEL: Israeli army deploys along Egyptian border to prevent weapons smuggling.
  • Date: 3rd January 2006
  • Summary: MV TROOPS IN ARMY VEHICLE; CLOSEUP OF APC; MV TROOPS STANDING NEAR JEEP
  • Embargoed: 18th January 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA1X31KB0D72LIKY5A3GQ4RYE8I
  • Story Text: The Israeli army has deployed forces on Monday (January 2) along the Israeli-Egyptian border to prevent smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip, stepped up following Israel's withdrawal in September 2005, an army officer said.
    An Israeli intelligence report which was published earlier on Monday revealed that Palestinians have smuggled anti-aircraft missiles into the Gaza Strip along with tons of other military hardware since Israel withdrew it forces.
    It said that Palestinian militants were acquiring anti-aircraft missiles primarily to thwart Israeli air strikes on militants in Gaza, but it said these weapons could in theory threaten civilian aircraft in Israel.
    "The presence of anti-aircraft missiles in Gaza considerably heightens the threat against Israeli aircraft, both military and civilian," the report said. "It also increases the risk that such weaponry will enter the West Bank where it will present a significant threat to Israeli aviation."
    Palestinian officials made no immediate comment. In the past, the Palestinian Authority has denied Israeli suggestions that anti-aircraft missiles had been smuggled into Gaza.
    The report said "a small number" of anti-aircraft missiles had been smuggled into Gaza along with 200 anti-tank rocket launchers, 300 anti-tank rockets, 5,000 automatic rifles and five tons of explosives since the pullout.
    According to the report, the amount of weaponry smuggled into Gaza since the Israeli withdrawal was some six times the amount smuggled from Egypt to Gaza during January to September 2005 when Israel controlled the Gaza-Egypt border.
    Colonel Avi Peled of the Israeli southern command told Reuters, "The Israeli forces are deploying along the Israeli-Egyptian border in order to prevent the smuggling of arms and ammunition that (has) increased since the disengagement."
    Colonel Peled said the deployment was fully coordinated with neighbouring Egypt.
    "Everything that we will do will be along the Israeli-Egyptian border with co-ordination with the Egyptians," he added.
    The reinforcement of soldiers along the border will be followed by construction of watch-towers and other surveillance means to track down smugglers of weapons, the army said.
    Commenting on the report, Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra said that Israel should keep tight control on any movement of Palestinians from Gaza to the West Bank to prevent any flow of weapons into Palestinian territories located near to major Israeli population centres.
    The United States has backed Palestinian calls for Israel to allow convoys of Palestinians to travel from Gaza to the West Bank. Israel has not yet allowed the convoys to start, citing security concerns.
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