Sharon’s visit was prompted by intense warnings of attempts by terror groups to smuggle cells into Israel and the Gaza Strip from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
“The mission of troops on the ground is to stop border crossings. I stress, not to reduce or hamper, but to stop completely,” Sharon said.
Sharon briefed by IDF officials (Photo: GPO)
Sharon also said that security forces should thwart smuggling attempts by terrorists and criminals with the same strictness, noting that “there is no difference between criminal and security infiltrations.”
“He who uses the border for criminal purposes will do so in the future for security offenses and there should be no difference in dealing with both activities,” Sharon said, vowing that Israel would find a suitable solution to the problem.
Sharon’s concern over smuggling activities across the border was fueled by warnings from security officials at the cabinet meeting Sunday that Palestinian groups are attempting to cash in on the porous border to carry out large-scale terror attacks.
The prime minister was briefed on smuggling activities across the border which include arms, drugs, prostitutes and tobacco.
Residents of communities along the border met the Sharon and conveyed their distress over possible terror attacks emanating from Egypt. Some residents proposed a barrier be built across 30 kilometers of the border to shield the communities from terrorists and criminal smugglers.
The IDF has been instructed to weigh the demand with some officials estimating the cost at NIS 200 million (USD 44 million).
Sharon was joined by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra, and IDF Chief of General Staff Dan Halutz.