RPG smuggled into territories
Photo: AP
Shin Bet head Diskin
Photo: Yoav Galai
'Global jihad operating in J'lem'
Diskin tells Knesset committee initial signs for international terror network activity found in capital, Nablus, but that no concrete plots discovered; adds 11 tons of explosives smuggled into Gaza since pullout
Shin Bet Head Yuval Diskin told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tuesday that there are initial signs of global jihad operations in Nablus and Jerusalem, and that the international terror network is also active in Sinai and Jordan.
"We have intercepted plans to carry out terror attacks, and arrested people who have been involved in this, but encountered no concrete, operative plans," he said. According to Diskin, there is a constant flow of the al-Qaeda organization from Iraq to Jordan, but he failed to specify whether he was referring to arms, information, or manpower.
The Shin Bet chief also said that "since September, some USD 20 million have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip and made their way into Hamas' hands."
Apart from the money, the Palestinians also smuggled 11 tons of TNT explosives into Gaza since Israel withdrew from the Philadelphi route last summer. Diskin said that the Shin Bet perceives smuggling as a serious problem, since the materials brought into the Strip are used for improving Qassam warheads, and for producing explosive belts and explosive devices.
Diskin stated that despite Egypt's efforts, the neighboring country is failing in thwarting the smuggling; however, the Shin Bet is successful in foiling Hamas' attempts to smuggle information and experts from the Strip into the West Bank.
According to Diskin, arms smuggled from Egypt to Gaza in recent months include some 3,000,000,000 bullets, 9,600 light weapons, 1,600 pistols, 65 rocket launchers, RPG rockets and less than 10 Strela shoulder missiles.
Moran Zelikovich contributed to the report
