PM to IDF: Close border with Egypt to terrorists
Prime minister expected to instruct IDF to take practical measures to prevent infiltration of suicide bombers to Israel from Gaza, via Egypt; intelligence information points to possibility Palestinian terror groups’ plan to take advantage of opening of Rafah crossing, breached Egyptian border to transfer terror cells from Gaza to Rafah, and from there to Israeli population centers in Negev region
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is expected to instruct the IDF to take practical measures to prevent the infiltration of suicide bombers to Israel from Gaza, via Egypt, this following repeated intelligence warnings regarding Palestinian terror groups’ plans to take advantage of the recent opening of the Rafah crossing and the breached Egyptian border to transfer terror cells from Gaza to Rafah, and from there to population centers in the Negev region.
During last Sunday’s cabinet security briefing, security establishment officials spoke of information pointing to possible attempts by Gaza suicide bombers to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing and then infiltrate the Negev region via the breached border.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the prime minister is expected to instruct the security establishment to take preventive measures to seal off the breached border with Egypt.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, along with several other key security officials, are set to also be briefed on Egypt’s activity aimed at closing off the border.
Notably, Egypt’s activity in this regard has increased as of late.
Moreover, senior IDF commanders are also set to present a plan to close of a 30-kilometer (about 19 miles) segment of the border by way of constructing a security fence and augmenting IDF presence in the area.
Smuggling prostitutes, foreign workers
For the past two years the smuggling of weapons into Israel through the Egyptian border has gradually increased, but the past year has seen increased warnings regarding terror organizations’ intent to take advantage of the breached southwest border to launch suicide attacks at Israeli population centers.
Israel’s concerns have increased following the recent pullout from Gaza and the opening of the Rafah crossing to Palestinians traveling to Egypt.
Due to the poor condition of the security fence along the border, IDF units are finding it difficult to stop the illegal flow of tobacco, drugs, prostitutes, foreign workers and arms into the country.
Government sources estimated the cost of reinforcing the border at more than NIS 200 million (about USD 43 million).
