HAMAS EXPECTED TO BRING KASSAM TO W. BANK
JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Israel's military expects that Hamas will succeed in
deploying the Kassam short-range missile in the West Bank.

Israeli officials said Hamas plans to use the current ceasefire to complete
Kassam production facilities in the West Bank. The officials said the effort
has been aided by Hizbullah and Iran.

"Within the next few months, we could see Kassam rockets also in Judea and
Samaria [West Bank]," Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuval
Steinitz said. "This is a situation that Israel cannot afford, even in
exchange for temporary and relative quiet."

Steinitz said the Kassam missiles would have the range to strike Jerusalem
and other major Israeli cities. He said the missiles would also threaten
civilian and military aircraft that use Ben-Gurion Airport east of Tel Aviv.
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