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House crushed by mortar shell in Netiv Haasara
Photo: Amir Cohen

South braces for infiltration from Gaza

Infiltration attempt over weekend leads to tightening of restrictions on Gaza-vicinity communities, residents instructed to refrain from approaching border fence. Defense officials concerned terrorists may use smuggling tunnels to bypass IDF

Residents of Israeli communities neighboring on the Gaza border have long since grown used to daily barrages of mortar shells and Qassam rockets, but the infiltration attempt at the Kerem Shalom crossing on Passover Eve served as a vivid reminder of how close to home the terror threat looms.

 

Defense officials have issued revised security protocols for Gaza-vicinity communities, recommending residents steer clear of border fences and isolated areas. The Sedot HaNegev Regional Council has also stationed security detail around local synagogues, fearing a terror attack.

 

Meanwhile on Monday rockets continued to fall, with four Qassams landing in open areas in southwest Israel. Two of the rockets landed south of Ashkelon, one in the Sderot industrial zone and the fourth in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council.

 

But projectile attacks are not the chief concern of defense officials at present time – rather it is the possibility of a terrorist infiltrating the country undetected through a smuggling tunnel.

 

At Netiv Haasara residents are used to handling infiltration attempts, last August such an attack was thwarted by IDF troops at the last second. Both terrorists were killed.

 

"We internalized long ago that the mortar shells are intended to, among other things, distract the attention of our civilian defense unit," explained Gil Taasa, security director for the city.

 

"Unfortunately this scenario is one that almost played out not long ago. We were warned this month to step-up our own defense. What's more, since the incident late August we have also upgraded our response arsenal.

 

Yonat Atlas contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.21.08, 11:18
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