Israel intends to create a cordon sanitaire in the northern Gaza Strip to stop Palestinian militants from firing rockets and mortar bombs into its territory.
The idea is not to create a security zone similar to the one it had in southern Lebanon for almost two decades, with troops and fortifications, but to enforce one with fire from the air, by artillery and possibly from the sea, defense ministry and military sources said on December 23.
The plans are still being considered and no orders have been issued so far, authoritative military sources said. They seem, however, imminent.
UPDATE: RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei on December 26 rejected outright the plans to create a buffer zone.
"We categorically reject it. The Israeli government has made a very serious decision and we warn against the consequences," he told the weekly Palestinian cabinet meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
Defense minister Shaul Mofaz visited the headquarters of the brigade responsible for the Gaza Strip's northern border, near Nahal Oz on Tuesday, and told reporters the defense establishment was "examining a series of steps to reduce the launching of Qassam [rockets] and we shall implement those steps in the coming days, weeks and months."
Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in September and destroyed the 21 settlements it had built there. Palestinian militants moved to evacuated sites in the northern Gaza Strip and kept firing at Israel. From some of those sites one can clearly see - and aim - at the Israeli town of Ashkelon and at strategic targets between the Gaza Strip and that city, such as a power plant and fuel depots.
The Palestinian rockets did not have the range necessary to reach Ashkelon but following the Israeli withdrawal the militants were able to bring their weapons closer to Ashkelon. Some of those rockets hit two army bases, injuring five soldiers in one this week and scaring girls who were just recruited and were undergoing basic training in another. Those attacks have already sent worried parents to the base's gate. In Israel military service is compulsory for females as well as for males.
The Israelis maintain that since they withdrew from Gaza, there is no justification to continue attacks from there.
The major Palestinian organizations have agreed to a temporary cease-fire, and Hamas respects that undertaking. However the Islamic Jihad and some small groups have continued attacks.
The Palestinian Authority sent troops to the area, then reinforcements, but they have failed to stop the attacks.
Mofaz, as well as senior officer who spoke to United Press International on condition he not be identified, maintained the Palestinian Authority has lost control over Gaza.
According to military accounts Palestinians have launched some 260 rockets and mortar bombs since the withdrawal. Half of them did not make it to the border either because they were fired out of range or because Hamas is keeping the better rockets for itself, military sources said.
The Palestinians dug a tunnel under the border to try and smuggle militants into Israel, tried to send a suicide bomber who was caught, and have placed dozens of bombs near the electronic border fence.
The Israelis retaliated by firing some 700 artillery rounds into open areas but tried to verify no one was there at the time. Usually no one was hurt but one person was recently killed there. The Israelis have two 155mm cannon batteries near the Gaza Strip.
The air force engaged in targeted killings, bombed roads, bridges and plants where rockets were manufactured. Usually the air force was chosen for more precise attacks, a military source said.
Yedioth Aharonoth's military analyst Alex Fishman noted on Friday there have been no Qassam launchings and no other attacks from areas that the Israeli artillery shelled periodically.
The idea is therefore to create the cordon sanitaire in two places: The northeastern Gaza Strip that is close to the Israeli town of Sderot, and in the plateau of sand dunes near the border where it had three settlements. That area has been largely empty and Israelis maintained Palestinians who roam around there are suspicious.
Mofaz' plan calls for a "curfew" in that area. Israel can monitor it with a balloon equipped with long-range cameras or with a drone and have the artillery, the air force or navy open fire if any movement is seen there. It decided also on some operations inside the Palestinian territory, Yedioth Aharonoth said.
The Defense minister's media adviser confirmed Mofaz has issued orders to "restrict movement in places from which Palestinian terror organizations send Qassam [rockets] into Israel."
Deputy defense minister Zeev Boim said the soldiers will targets also routes to the launching areas.
The Israeli fire could eventually near populated areas and Boim said one "cannot rule out the possibility of bringing artillery fire to area from which the launching squads leave and where they are being hosted."
He described the Israeli measures as the tightening of a screw. "We are making another turn by creating these zones, hoping the message will be learnt and that the launching squads will be stopped, but if there will be no alternative will have to turn it again," Boim told Israel Radio.
When Israel controlled Gaza it destroyed populated areas near Rafah and along roads to the settlements in order to push militants away. It thus has fresh experience with such actions.
At the moment it is not contemplating an invasion, even though contingency plans are being made. "It is not on the agenda at the moment. We still have room for maneuver and for other activities," Mofaz told reporters in Nahal Oz.
There were other considerations as well. In the final analysis the rockets and mortar bombs "are not a strategic threat", Boim said. No Israeli has been killed in those attacks since the withdrawal though several Israelis were wounded.
An invasion could deeply undermine Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who sincerely wants to reach an agreed settlement with Israel. Abbas does not have many achievements to show his people to convince them to vote Fatah in the January 25 elections to the Legislative Council. He has failed to enforce law and order in the Palestinian streets, let alone the border, and there were some fears he was contemplating resignation. Israeli officials suspected he might resign if Israel invades, Ha'aretz reported.
An invasion would also be bad for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who saw through the withdrawal despite strong protests, and resistance of right wing groups. The opponents warned against a withdrawal and if Israeli troops have to fight their way back into the Gaza Strip the right-wingers would not doubt claim they were proven right. Israel is heading to Knesset elections on March 28 and Sharon does not need that kind of an "endorsement".
Israel plans north Gaza security zone
TOOLBAR
To add a comment,
Please log in:
Don't have an account?
Register now to comment on stories and stay up to date on important events and issues in the Middle East with our newsletter.