 |
 |
 |
|
|
PA police reacting to Hamas gunfire (AP FILE)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff and partners October 16, 2005 |
|
| |
Palestinian forces stopped terrorists in the Gaza Strip from launching attacks against Israel 17 times since Israel withdrew from Gaza last month, the Palestinian Interior Ministry said Sunday.
The attacks were mainly attempts by terrorists to fire rockets into Israel, according to Tawfik Abu Khoussa, the Interior Ministry spokesman. Palestinian forces also closed two smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt and prevented seven smuggling attempts, he said.
Israel has demanded the Palestinians prevent smuggling over the border, fearing that weapons and terrorists could be brought into Gaza for use in attacks against Israelis. Israel also has called on the Palestinians to dismantle terrorist groups.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has ruled out a crackdown, saying it would start a civil war. His policy of using negotiation and persuasion, rather than force, to stop terrorist attacks has had only mixed results.
After Israel pulled out of Gaza on Sept. 12, it said it would react harshly to any attacks originating from the coastal strip. When Gaza terrorists launched a barrage of homemade rockets into Israel following the withdrawal, Israel responded with a widespread offensive, including air strikes.
Since the pullout, Palestinian security forces confiscated 15 homemade rockets and discovered 75 explosive devices, Abu Khoussa said. Most of the rockets were ready to be launched remotely when security forces found them in empty fields, he said.
On two occasions, officers found terrorists ready to launch the rockets and confronted them, sparking clashes, he said. No arrests were made in any of the rocket incidents, he said.
Abu Khoussa said the security service did arrest some smugglers, but he declined to say how many or provide other details.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said the Palestinians have taken positive steps to stop incitement to violence, but they have done little to fight off attacks on Israel or crack down on terrorists.
"Up until know we haven't seen that process really get off the ground. We are hopeful that it's going to happen soon," he said.
The AP contributed to this report.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
