Hamas terror operatives in the West Bank have recently increased efforts to obtain a rocket capability and to develop Kassam rockets that could be fired into central Israeli cities, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) revealed Monday in its annual terror report for 2007.
Kassam rockets launched from the Gaza Strip.
Photo: Channel 1
The total number of terror attacks in 2007 was 2,946 in comparison to 2,955 in 2006. In contrast, there was only one suicide bombing this year, in comparison to six in 2006 and 60 in 2002. In total, 13 Israelis were killed in terror attacks this year, compared to 24 in 2006 and 50 in 2005.
According to the report, Hamas terrorists have used the past year to strengthen their ties with operatives abroad and in the past four months have succeeded in smuggling NIS 12 million into the West Bank. Most of the money went to finance terror activity in the West Bank.
The report said Hizbullah continued to finance Palestinian terror activity against Israel in 2007 and has transferred close to $50 million to terror cells over the past four years. However, the number of cells it operates today has dropped to 65 from 80 that it operated before the Second Lebanon War.
The report also warned of Global Jihad and al-Qaida attempts to bolster their presence in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Army of Islam - based in Gaza - has appointed itself as the al-Qaida representative in the Gaza Strip and was involved in the kidnapping of Cpl. Gilad Schalit as well as BBC reporter Alan Johnston earlier this year.
