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Deputy IDF chief: Terror groups facing difficulties
Major-General Gantz refers to explosive charges found off Israel's southern shores, says incident points to terrorists' determination to carry out attacks and their search for new routes
According to the general, "The sea charges incident shows that the terror organizations' are facing a great difficulty in carrying out attacks. In any event, we are monitoring the incident and will continue to comb the area as much as we need until we feel comfortable."
On Tuesday morning, police received a call about another bomb scare on an Ashdod beach, where earlier one of a two explosive devices disguised as barrels had washed up on shore.
Security forces, aided by an Air Force helicopter, combed the beach and discovered the suspicious object was a garbage bag.
Meanwhile, officers were alerted to the Sidney Ali beach in Herzliya, following reports of a suspicious object. The beach was closed off. The police and volunteers are continuing to search the southern beaches in an attempt to locate additional explosives.
In a press brief summarizing 2009, the deputy army chief added that the past year was a relatively quite one. "We can be happy, but we mustn't rely on the calm," Gantz noted, adding that "this is a paradox which could be dangerous. There is an accumulation of threats developing on the different ends."
According to the deputy IDF chief, Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip was carried out well and "led to a relative calm on the southern border, which joined a very significant state of calm on the northern border."
Major-General Gantz added that Hamas continues to grow stronger by smuggling weapons through sea and land, and that Hezbollah continues to accumulate weapons from Syria and Iran.
"We don't think that any of the parties have an interest to fight and don't think we should develop such expectations, but it is our duty to make all the preparations and be prepared on all fronts."
