The Hamas organization seeks to manufacture Grad rockets - a type of Katyusha capable of reaching a 21-kilometer range, Military Intelligence chief Major General Amos Yadlin warned Tuesday. Speaking at a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting, Yadlin said that at this point Hamas is still only capable of producing Qassam rockets with an 11-13 kilometer (roughly 7-8.5 mile) range.
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According to the major general, "all terror organizations in the area are highly driven to abduct IDF soldiers, in a bid to use them as bargaining chips in negotiations for the release of Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel." He also warned that "terrorists are moving through the border crossings between Egypt and the Gaza Strip much too easily," adding that if this situation persists it could enable the entry of global Jihad operatives and trained terrorists into the Palestinian Authority.
Referring to the nuclear threat posed by Iran, Yadlin stated Tehran would obtain an atom bomb within three-and-a-half years if it does not encounter obstacles to its development plan and if it does not halt its intensive activities in the field.
"Iran’s declaration that they have completed the research and development process for manufacturing a bomb is false. Those able to run to a 100-meter distance are not necessarily marathon runners. Iran has been projecting confidence because it feels strong and powerful enough to resist the international community," he explained.
Yadlin also stressed that apart from Iran's ally Syria, the Arab world is very concerned over the Muslim republic's nuclear project. "Israel hopes that if the United Nations' Security Council imposes sanctions on Iran, this will impede the project's advancement, as Iran is still dependent on the West," he stated.
Commenting on Hizbullah's operations in the region, Yadlin said that "the organization is seeking legitimization for actions against Israel, because of Israeli flights over Lebanon – which they claim violate Lebanese sovereignty, as well as their demand to receive control over the Shaba Farms they claim to be Lebanese territory, and their demand that Samir Kuntar be returned to Lebanon."
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