According to IDF Intelligence Research Department head Brig.-
Gen. Yossi Kupperwasser, Hamas's main aim now is to carry out
"sophisticated" attacks from the Gaza Strip. The trend is
likely to spread to other terrorist groups in the West Bank,
he said.
Kupperwasser said that terrorist groups are experiencing
difficulties in carrying out attacks. That has led them to
try to bypass obstacles, such as in using children as suicide
bombers. The wave of protests about Israel's killing of Hamas
leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin has waned, but is not over,
Kupperwasser said. Abdel Aziz Rantisi presents himself as the
leader of Hamas, but does not have the same consensus support
as Yassin.
Kupperwasser said 17 suicide attacks initiated from the West
Bank have been foiled since January 16. In the past 10 days,
three attacks were prevented, including an attempt to carry
out a truck bombing with a sophisticated device, he said.
Kupperwasser warned of the "deep involvement" of Hizbullah
with terrorist groups in the West Bank, which includes
training and financing. It wants to be actively involved with
Fatah Tanzim, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, he said.
Kupperwasser said Hizbullah has tried to use the Yassin
killing to obtain more legitimacy for its warfare against
Israel. A recent attempt to fire Katyusha rockets in the
North was foiled when Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine-General Command terrorists were hit by IAF fire.
Sharon said he asked Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian
Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman to take part in the training
of Palestinian forces for antiterrorism operations as a means
of preventing chaos after Israel's disengagement plan is
carried out. He said Israel would continue to keep them
involved in the implementation of the plan.
