Weekly Commentary: Despite PR Blitz Gaza Tunnels Still In Full Operation

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 9 October 2008

Notwithstanding the recent PR blitz, the Gaza smuggling tunnels are still
very much in full operation.

Yes, American technology has enabled Egypt to locate and destroy some of the
entrances to some of the tunnels.

And these operations have lead to the injury and even death of some tunnel
workers.

But the Hamas government running the Gaza Strip addressed this development
by taking measures to insure that the families of those killed while working
on the tunnels are properly compensated.

The work continues unabated.

So while the stories certainly sound encouraging, the bottom line is that
closing down less than 10% of the tunnels hasn't had any impact on the
smuggling activity.

This is also indicated by the absence, so far, of reports of an increase in
the price of cigarettes or bullets in the Gaza Strip - something one would
expect to see if the smuggling was actually affected.

Why isn't the program working?

Is it a question of technology or manpower or will?

One thing is certain: if Egypt wanted to it could readily detect the
tremendous flow of material reaching the miniscule Egypt-Gaza border. This
isn't a few boxes being carried by donkeys or camels. We are talking about
fleets of trucks.

It is also clear that if instead of investing in gizmos the Egyptians
bulldozed a sterile border zone of a few thousand meters depth that
tunneling operations would require a magnitude of activity that any serious
Egyptian intelligence operation could readily detect.

But for now, the smuggling continue at full pace.

And the last thing we can afford to do is ignore it.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il