“There are dozens of attack attempts every day in Gaza, and eight were prevented last week. We failed to protect our citizens during the latest incident,” he told the government’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
A military investigation revealed that faulty intelligence information showed that the area of the Kissufim border crossing, where terrorists shot dead two Israelis in their car, was clear of gunmen and that forces allowed Israeli civilians to enter it too early.
"We will learn our lessions, but we must understand that continuous violence is reality."
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said Israel would not allow Palestinian terrorists to disrupt its planned withdrawal from all 21 settlements in Gaza and four of the 120 in the West Bank next month.
Echoing similar threats made by security chiefs in recent weeks, Harel said Israel could enter Palestinian areas in Gaza to stop them if attacks ensue.
Harel said the Gaza pullout would last three weeks and that forces would start evacuating three settlements in the northern part of the territory before reaching the remaining settlement bloc of Gush Katif, where most of the settlers reside.
Forces also face a challenge from Israeli right-wingers who have threatened to stop the pullout, claiming the West Bank and Gaza as their biblical birthright. Harel said about 2,000 of them have infiltrated into Gaza since January to fortify it ahead of the withdrawal.
Committee condemns settlers' remarks
Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip to non-resident Jews last month after violent clashes between anti-pullout protesters and forces ensued when police raided a hotel they suspected the rightists had used to plan attacks against forces and incite violence.
The committee condemned recent remarks settlers had made about Harel, where they called him a “traitor” and a “murderer.” Such calls, officials said, were intolerable.
“IDF soldiers are working day and night to protect the citizens of Israel,” said Army Chief Dan Halutz. “Their right to protest is legitimate, but it’s important to .. maintain a level of national responsibility even during painful moments.”
Opponents of the plan have also blocked dozens of roads in recent months to protest the withdrawal and have vowed to reach Gush Katif and stay there to help settlers resist their evacuation.
Police and soldiers blocked off thousands of right-wingers earlier in the month in an Israeli town they had gathered in ahead of a planned march to Gaza. The protesters later disbursed and went home.
- Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report