Weekly Commentary: Illegal Gaza Weapons Are Genuine Threat - Not Debating
Point
Dr. Aaron Lerner 12 October, 2017

The huge every increasing and ever improving illegal stockpile of weapons in
the Gaza Strip constitutes a genuinely serious threat to Israel - and that's
before even taking into account how the severity of the threat would
multiply if Hamas attacked within the framework of the kind of multi-front
conflict DM Liberman anticipates.

The gizmos we have for intercepting these weapons are both expensive and
limited in numbers. The more numerous and accurate the Hamas rockets and
other airborne devices are, the quicker we find ourselves limiting our
"gizmo defense" to protecting only the most strategic Israeli targets -
leaving the remainder exposed for attack.

So when Fatah and Hamas cut a deal that leaves all these weapons in place -
with the possibility that the development and deployment of ever more
weapons will continue unabated - our reaction should reflect just how
serious this matter is.

In the absence of an initiative to press for the removal of these dangerous
illegal weapons stockpiles we could find ourselves in a situation that is
even worse that the current "quiet for quiet" arrangement that permits Hamas
to build up illegal weapons stockpiles as long as it doesn’t shoot (too
much).

With the PA ostensibly in charge but the illegal weapons stockpiles still
intact, we could easily face the bizarre situation that Hamas can freely
launch rocket attacks that are excused as being the action of "trouble
makers" with the world warning Israel not to respond as this would only
serve to "reward the trouble makers" and "interfere with efforts to restore
stability and prosperity to the Gaza Strip".

If the PA is in charge of the Gaza Strip then the illegal weapons stockpiles
that constitute a gross violation of the agreements signed between the PLO
and Israel must be removed immediately.

This is not just another debating point.

It is a vital Israeli security interest.

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il