Diskin
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Yadlin
Photo: Haim Zach
Shin Bet: 7 suicide bombings foiled during holidays
Rigorous IDF operations in West Bank thwarted several attempts to launch terror attacks in Israel, Shin Bet chief Diskin tells cabinet. Diskin claims number of rockets fired from Gaza dropping due to Hamas' decision not to fire Qassams
The security forces thwarted seven suicide bombings in Israel in the last month-and-a-half, Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin told the cabinet Sunday. Diskin said that the ongoing efforts of the IDF, the Shin Bet and the police were behind the apparent calm in the country recently.
Diskin told the ministers that an IDF operation in the Beit Ilma village near Nablus prevented a large suicide bombing set to be carried out in Tel Aviv during the holidays. However, he added that the Shin Bet was concerned about the fact that the explosive belt was passed through several checkpoints undetected.
According to Diskin, a significant drop has been registered in the number of rockets launched from Gaza, from 110 Qassams in August to 85 in September. The Shin Bet attributes the decrease to Hamas' decision not to fire rockets.
On the other hand, the smuggling of weapons into Gaza has increased since Hamas rose to power, said Diskin, making Gaza "a barrel of explosives."
'Hams will try to torpedo summit'
Meanwhile, IDF intelligence chief Amos Yadlin told the cabinet that there was an irreconcilable gap between Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas' desire to lead a substantial process in the Annapolis peace conference, and his ability to implement it on the ground.If Hamas believes that the summit may succeed, said Yadlin, it will do its utmost to torpedo it, including launching terror attacks.
Yadlin added that according to IDF intelligence estimates, Hamas has been solidifying its control over Gaza. he also refuted reports that there was a humanitarian crisis in the Strip.
