Mofaz: Don’t pity anyone at crossings

The reality in the West Bank following the disengagement will be complex, and the area will become the main battlefield in the war on terror, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Tuesday during a meeting with Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and other senior IDF officers at a military base in the West Bank. Amid growing fears that terror organizations may attempt to infiltrate Israel through the crossings located along the border separating Israel from Palestinian territories, Mofaz instructed the officers “not to have pity on any Palestinian, even if this will cause traffic jams and evoke indignation, because the security of Israel’s citizens is our primary interest.” Notably, the West Bank crossings were recently equipped with cameras and other tools to prevent terrorists from passing. Mofaz also addressed the fact that Israelis employ and house illegal inhabitants, saying the matter be dealt with immediately. He said he discussed the matter with Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, adding that those who are nabbed by the IDF for driving illegal inhabitants into the country should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. “Stop them, stop them, stop them,” Mofaz said to the officers. Moreover, the defense minister also discussed the southern border separating Israel from Palestinian territories and the entire south Mount Hebron region, saying, “This place should be a bunker, no one should be able to pass.” As to the West Bank accused of disorderly conduct, Mofaz said, “There should be zero tolerance, but we must find a way to talk to the settlers, as we are responsible for their security.” J'lem, Beer Sheva may be targeted Due to the recent disengagement Mofaz published a bid for the privatization of four border crossings situated between Israeli and Palestinian Authority areas. The crossings – Gilboa, Shaar Ephraim, Bitoniya and Erez – are scheduled to be handed over to civilian ownership by the end of 2006. A total of 17 crossings are located from Samaria in the north to Mount Hebron in the south. Security establishment officials said they believe the Palestinians regard the pullout from Gaza as an achievement and will therefore push for an IDF withdrawal from the West Bank as well. In the past few months security forces operating in Nablus and Ramallah thwarted a number of attempts by terrorists to manufacture Qassam rockets. The number of terror warnings in the West Bank has increased following the pullout. Security sources estimate that terrorists will boost their efforts to carry out shooting attacks in the area, as many Israelis travel along the West Bank roads. The West Bank security fence currently runs long the northern part of the region, while the southern West Bank areas remain exposed. Therefore, terrorists can carry out attacks on Jerusalem and Beer Sheva targets with relative ease.

Mofaz: Don’t pity anyone at crossings

Defense minister meets with chief of staff, other senior IDF officers; says reality in West Bank following pullout will be complex and area will become main battlefield in war on terror