[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Under the "quiet for quiet" arrangement at the
end of the last round of fighting between Israel and Hamas, there are
absolutely no limits on what Hamas can do in the Gaza Strip to enhance its
capabilities. Cynics might note that this approach by Israel reflects how
it typically works with a planning horizon measured in hours, days, weeks
and at best a few months. As long as not much is fired at us the fact that
all these weapon are being added isn't particularly troubling. We can even
take comfort in the thought that they aren't shooting at us because we have
achieved "deterrence" when it could be that they are, as our leadership
likes to put it "picking the time and the place."

But what of "Iron Dome"? By definition, there is a numerical limit to the
quantity of rockets it can intercept. So the more rockets they have, the
greater the odds they can exhaust the Iron Dome capacity.]

Hamas manufacturing rockets that can reach Tel Aviv
Terror group testing medium to long range M75 rockets that can reach Tel
Aviv metropolitan area
Yoav Zitun YNET Published: 07.15.13, 12:47 / Israel News
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4405206,00.html

Hamas is testing medium to long range missiles that are designed to reach
Tel Aviv, Ynet has learned. The group manufactures its own 8-inch M75
rockets and stores them in special caches in the Gaza Strip.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz said Monday that while there is calm in Gaza,
Hamas continues to enhance its capabilities "less through tunnels and more
through self-production."

Nevertheless, the terrorist group is interested in maintaining calm in the
south that has persisted in the eight months since Operation Pillar of
Defense , partly due to pressures from Cairo.

Last month Hamas thwarted a protest flotilla that was meant to leave Gaza en
route to Europe with Gaza-made produce and textiles.

The group wants to retain the power to decide on the next round of violence
and is taking steps against rival factions in Gaza such as the Iran-funded
Islamic Jihad .

During the course of Operation Pillar of Defese, Hamas fired several rockets
at central Israel. One of those hit a residential building in Rishon Lezion
leaving two people wounded. Severe damage was caused to the building.