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Newly appointed head of the Shin Bet, Israel's Security Agency, Yuval Diskin. (AP)
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05/17
Ynetnews |
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| By israelinsider staff and partners May 17, 2005 |
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In response to claims made by right-wing Knesset members that Monday's reports of plans to attack the Temple Mount were exaggerated, Diskin told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, "The Shin Bet has no sense of humor regarding anything related to the Temple Mount."
He also addressed the possibility of attempts to assassinate Israeli politicians.
"Israeli society would not withstand another attack on a prime minister," he said. " If, God forbid, a senior political figure would be harmed by Jews, it would be an explosive wave that would possibly hurt Israel strategically."
During the committee meeting, Knesset Member Effie Eitam (Religious Zionism) told Diskin Monday's reports on the Temple Mount "prove the prime minister would utilize the Shin Bet for political manipulations."
To this Diskin responded, "We will not serve as a political tool; we will not be told whom to arrest."
Diskin pointed out two main problems the Shin Bet is currently facing: The strengthening of terror organizations in Gaza due to lack of anti-terror activity by the Palestinian Authority, and the fear Israel may not be able to target Hamas terrorists should they become political leaders in the aftermath of the upcoming Palestinian elections.
"(PA Chairman) Abu Mazen's (Mahmoud Abbas) leadership is weak," he said. "Palestinian society has disintegrated as a result of Arafat's policy regarding the war on terror."
Abbas would never forgo the right to return Palestinian refugees to former homes in what is now Israel, and he is not fighting terror in any way, he said.
According to Diskin, Hamas is gaining strength and may be a part of the Palestinian political leadership in the future.
"Northern Samaria without the IDF means terror and rocket fire up to a point in which there would be no effective alternative to thwart terror activity in the region," Diskin said. He said he opposes transfer of the Philadelphi Route in Gaza between Gaza and Egypt to Palestinian control.
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yuval Steinitz said Diskin's concerns regarding the possibility of Jewish terror attack constitute a serious warning.
Knesset Member Ehud Yatom (Likud) said following the meeting, Hamas' increasing strength in Gaza and northern Samaria may spur bloodshed and strategically damage Israel's security.
Diskin officially assumed his post Sunday following a ceremony at President Moshe Katsav's residence.
During the ceremony he said the Shin Bet would be forced to stand as a barrier to ensure conflicts within Israeli society do not turn into Armageddon.
"The conflict will be conducted according to the law and the rules of democracy," he said.
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