"Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God." (Psalm 90:1-2)
1. Reward for Smuggling: Arms Transferred Directly to Abu Mazen - Arutz Sheva
As a result of Hamas’s unceasing arms smuggling into Gaza, and with the Israeli government’s full cooperation, Egypt gave 2,000 rifles to Palestinian Authority Fatah chief Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas]. Israel allowed the transfer as part of the gestures and easings of restrictions Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised Abu Mazen earlier this week. Likud [declared]: “The guns will be used against us.”
2. IDF Officials: Pinpoint Operations Don’t Work with Restraint - Arutz Sheva
IDF [Israel Defense Forces] officials are not happy with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s new exclusive policy of “pinpoint operations” against Kassam- launching cells. Some 27 security checkpoints in Yesha [Judea and Samaria] are set to be removed.
A senior officer slammed the new anti-Kassam policy, which Olmert decided upon after two boys were seriously wounded in a Tuesday night [December 26] rocket attack. The government resolved to continue the cease-fire with the terrorists, despite the increasing violations by terrorist rocket crews, but to take action against specific Kassam cells when they are detected.
3. Islamic Jihad: We Are Firing More Accurate Rockets - Ynet News
The Islamic Jihad seemingly didn’t receive notice of the cease-fire. From their standpoint, the rocket firing will continue. Their rocket-firing cells are aiming at strategic facilities and threaten to reach longer ranges than they have in the past.
Spokesman for Islamic Jihad’s military arm, Al-Quds Brigade, Abu Ahmad, claimed in an interview with Ynet that this is just the beginning. His organization is simultaneously preparing for a wave of suicide attacks to be carried out within Israel.
4. Jobless Gaza Arabs Miss Jewish Employers, Turn to Drugs - Arutz Sheva
Gaza Arabs, left jobless by the Oslo War and by last year’s expulsion of Gush Katif farmers, have turned to drugs that are smuggled from Lebanon and Egypt, the United Nations reports.
Tens of thousands of Arabs worked throughout Israel in factories and in construction until the Oslo War broke out in 2000. The constant flow of terrorists from Gaza forced Israel to severely restrict traffic and to withdraw work permits, in an attempt to prevent terrorists from abusing them to carry out attacks.
(Please note: All of these articles were reported this week by Bridges for Peace.)
