HAMAS RENEWS ORDERS OF SAMs

JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Israel has reported that Hamas has renewed an order for
surface-to-air missiles meant to threaten Israeli air operations over the
Gaza Strip.
Officials said the Israeli intelligence community has received information
that Hamas has ordered and received anti-aircraft missiles. They said the
missiles were comprised of Soviet-origin SA-7s, which arrived in the Gaza
Strip from neighboring Egypt.

On Sunday, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was briefed on the
Hamas missile order. Brig. Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of military
intelligence's research department, said the Hamas surface-to-air missiles
could endanger helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that fly over the Gaza
Strip. He also reported the arrival of anti-tank missiles to the Gaza Strip.

A Cabinet statement said Baidatz discussed the "violent clashes between
Fatah and Hamas, the increased smuggling of war materiel from Sinai." The
statement did not elaborate.
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