October 9, 2007:
Hamas has been using 122mm Russian designed
rockets again. One fell 11 kilometers inside Israel this week. The max range of
this type of rocket is 20 kilometers. Last year, a similar Hamas rocket landed
12 kilometers inside Israel. It is believed that Hamas has several dozen of the
122mm rockets, which are being smuggled in from Egypt via tunnels under the
border. Hamas has also been firing about a dozen mortar shells or shorter range
home made rockets into Israel each day.
Egypt will not crack down
on the tunnels, believing that Hamas will never acquire a large enough quantity
of 122mm rockets to do any significant damage. Southern Israel is mostly desert
and thinly populated. By tolerating the Hamas smuggling, Egypt has some
leverage over Hamas, and, apparently, a deal to not assist Egyptian Islamic
terrorists. The last few Islamic terror bombings inside Egypt were dependent on
support from Gaza. With that support now withdrawn, there have been no more bombings.
Meanwhile, the battle
between Hamas and Fatah continues, in
both Gaza and the West Bank. Hamas still has the edge in virtue, but has not
been able to do much for living standards. Hamas appears determined to strike a
powerful blow against Israel. Fearing such an attempt, Israel continues to warn
of a major military sweep in Gaza, to find and destroy many of the rockets and
other weapons being smuggled in from Egypt.
Fatah is negotiating deals with Israel, that involve shutting down Fatah
supported terrorist groups, in return for economic help, and freeing imprisoned
Palestinians.
October 7, 2007: In Lebanon, the government has launched a
major campaign against al Qaeda, and other Sunni Arab terror groups. There have
been hundreds of arrests, and a determination to avoid another multi-month
siege, like the one that recently ended outside Tripoli.
October 6, 2007: Hizbollah has accused Israel of being
responsible for the murder of anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians. Syria is an
ally of Hizbollah, and is accused by UN
investigators for several of these murders. Meanwhile, an Israeli patrol found
a bomb abandoned near the West Bank security fence. The fence has been very
effective in keeping terrorists out of Israel.
October 5, 2007: In Gaza,
a roadside bomb hit a Hamas police vehicle, injuring three men. Hamas accused
Fatah of using roadside and car bombs against them. Meanwhile, Hamas still has
to contend with Israeli missile strikes aimed at Hamas leaders and technical
experts.