Hamas' new weapons suppliers
Citing 'senior defense officials,' Haaretz reports that weapons smuggling into Gaza has dramatically increased since the Hosni Mubarak was deposed in Egypt (Hat Tip: Barry Rubin). In the past few months, Hamas has acquired improved high-trajectory rockets, ready-made explosive devices, anti-tank missiles and possibly anti-aircraft missiles, the sources told Haaretz.Haaretz reports that the civil war in Libya has opened up new smuggling opportunities. The NATO-backed Libyan rebels have been more than willing to help Hamas out.
Anti-aircraft missiles could impinge on the unchallenged freedom of Israeli planes and helicopters over Gaza's skies. For years, the air force has been assuming that Gaza militants might have such missiles, but there has been no evidence that such weapons have been fired.
But the civil war in Libya opened new opportunities for weapons smugglers after the Libyan army lost control of vast weapons stores in the east of the country. Local arms dealers made contact with Gaza smugglers, and new weapons began to flow by a much shorter and easier route than the ones originating in Iran.So the complacent Egyptians and the NATO-backed Libyan rebels have effectively become Hamas' new arms suppliers.
The situation has been exacerbated by the anarchy in the Sinai, former Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter told Haaretz. "The Sinai went from being an area through which they smuggle weapons to an area through which they simply transfer weapons," he said. "No Egyptian security official dares to confront the Bedouin anymore."
Dichter said the construction of the steel fence on the Rafah border, which Egypt began in the last year of Hosni Mubarak's rule, had been stopped, and parts of it were already being dismantled by the Bedouin.
He said Iran and Hamas want to concentrate large stores of weapons in Gaza and, when the opportunity arises, to deliver them to the West Bank.
What could go wrong?
Labels: Egypt, Hamas, Libya, NATO, weapons smuggling
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:47 AM
4 Comments:
If we had some real reporters, they would investigate who the Libyan rebels are. Are they part of, sent by, funded by, etc. al Shabab. What is the connection between Odinga (Obama's cousin/friend in the Kenyan govt who unleashed machete people when he didn't like losing a Kenyan election and bullied his way into a current govt post) and al Shabab. Is al Shabab arming Gaza/Hamas. What does Obama know and when does he know it... or is he the boss of the whole thing.
Well, Sharon tried out unilateral withdrawal.
Reoccupation is out by political consensus of the elites.
America under Obama has no response except to say in turn to each of squabbling Arab and Islamic sects/entities/nations/militias, "you're special too!"
Expect more and worse.
A person couldn't purposely damage the USA and Israel as much as President Obama has.
...but I don't think we have to expect a world-wide conspiracy of Muslim gunmen planned by Bar Mitzvah Boy Barry Barak HUSSEIN Obama, sitting around the Kenyan tribal camp fire with his bright eyed Islamic attaches, chewing on khat, hunched over maps of the global caliphate.
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