[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Should we laugh or cry? Shin Bet Director Yuval
Diskin continues with the Israeli tradition of reporting that the Egyptians
are making a good faith effort to stop the smuggling taking place under
their noses in the extremely small area between Egyptian Sinai and the Gaza
Strip and then notes that despite this massive smuggling continues..]

Smuggling to Gaza continues, says Shin Bet chief
Despite Israeli, Egyptian efforts to stop smuggling into Gaza Strip, Yuval
Diskin tells cabinet ministers dozens of tons of explosives, missiles
smuggled into Strip since end of Operation Cast Lead; adds Hamas fears
escalation with Israel
Roni Sofer Ynet Published: 03.29.09, 15:37 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3693904,00.html

Operation Cast Lead and Israel's various prevention methods, seem to have
left no impression on Hamas, that continues to smuggle dozens of tons of
explosives and antitank and antiaircraft missiles into the Gaza Strip, Shin
Bet Director Yuval Diskin told cabinet ministers on Sunday.

According to Diskin, since the end of the military operation in early 2009,
22 tons of explosives, 45 tons of raw materials for the production of
weapons, dozens of rockets, hundreds of mortar shells and dozens of antitank
and antiaircraft missiles were smuggled into the Strip.

The Shin Bet chief added that Egypt is doing its part in the effort to
prevent arms smuggling, and that an improvement in the neighboring country's
activity has been noted, but still, smuggling through the Philadelphi route
continues.

Diskin said terror organizations in the Gaza Strip were planning to kidnap
more soldiers, and pointed out a rise in attempts of smaller Palestinian
organizations in Gaza to carry out attacks in Israel, through Sinai, or
local organizations in the West Bank.

During his weekly briefing, Diskin said Hamas feared an escalation with
Israel: "Hamas's military wing is constantly watched for fear of an
escalation, especially in light of the deadlock reached around the prisoner
exchange deal and Hamas-Fatah relations.

"There is indeed a drop in rockets, only one rocket from a small
organization was fired in recent days. There are two reasons for this: Hamas
is not interested in an escalation or another confrontation with Israel, and
as a result, Hamas is carrying out arrests before attacks.

"Hamas has also signed an agreement with the Islamic Jihad to abstain from
such attacks in the near future."

Diskin added that Hamas has failed to make a breakthrough in any of its
burning issues, including reaching a truce agreement with Israel, that has
been held up due to the Shalit issue, inter-Palestinian reconciliation
efforts, and rebuilding the Gaza Strip.

"Because of this," said Diskin, "Hamas is rethinking its moves, either to go
back to past operational patterns, meaning a popular protest and raising
international support, or there's the other option of resuming terror
activity.

"It was, and still is Hamas's interest to rebuild Gaza and its missile
lineup, and it is working on both planes."

The Shin Bet chief said that Hamas was currently planning massive support
rallies to take place at al-Aqsa Mosque in support of Israeli Arabs.
However, Diskin said he did not expect any riots to take place among Israeli
Arabs on Land Day.