IDF finds rockets in West Bank (Archive photo)
צילום דובר צה"ל
'We'll fire Qassams at every Israeli target'
Popular Resistance Committee head claims responsibility for rocket launcher, Qassam cache IDF captured in Bethlehem; We're transferring rocket technology from Gaza to West Bank, he tells Ynet
The Qassam launcher and cache of rockets and mortars captured by the IDF in Bethlehem this week belonged to the Popular Resistance Committees, group Spokesman Abd al-Aal told Ynet Monday.
The Resistance Committees planned to use to rockets to fire at Israeli targets, Al-Aal said.
Al-Aal noted that setting up the launching site in Bethlehem was part of preparations to transfer rocket technology from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank. Al-Aal said that his group hoped to communicate to Palestinians in the West Bank that "the retreat from Gaza will not leave (West Bank Palestinians) alone against the Zionist enemy. We are determined to accelerate the battle in the West Bank until an Israeli retreat is achieved, as occurred in the Gaza Strip."
Al-Aal refused to answer questions regarding the degree to which rocket technology had been transferred to the West Bank. Al-Aal added that the group would order rocket attacks after assessing the situation on the ground, which depended largely on the escalation of Israeli military operations.
"We decided that in the near future, if the situation so demands, we will fire these rockets against every Israeli location, no matter how sensitive the target is," al-Aal threatened.
Earlier Monday, Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin revealed to the Knesset that the IDF had discovered the Qassams and mortar shells in Bethlehem during a recent security survey. The mortars were intended to be aimed at Jerusalem's Gilo neighborhood.
"As far as we know, this is the first time high-trajectory weapons, intended for use against Jerusalem, have been discovered," Diskin added.
