Israel's "Operation Enchanted Day" Closes Egyptian-Gaza Terror Tunnels

Jerusalem---October 10......The Israel Defense Forces sent tanks and elite ground units into a Gaza refugee camp early Friday to destroy tunnels used by Palestinian terrorists to smuggle weapons. Military officials said they acted on warnings that terrorists were trying to acquire anti-aircraft missiles.

Israel's raid of the Rafah refugee camp — code-named "Operation Enchanted Day" - began around midnight Thursday and could last several days, military sources said. It was part of stepped-up military activity in response to last weekend's suicide bombing that murdered 20 Israelis in the Maxim restaurant in the port city of Haifa.

The Israeli army bulldozed three houses it said terrorists were firing from near the border. Thunderous explosions were heard, and the military said Palestinians hurled hand grenades and fired anti-tank missiles at the forces.

The army positioned snipers on rooftops, witnesses said, and fired a tank shell at an electricity transformer, plunging the camp into darkness.

The raid followed a day of political uncertainty and sporadic violence in the region. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia suffered a severe blow when legislators failed to vote on his Cabinet, casting doubt on his plan to reach a truce with Israel. And a Palestinian suicide bomber struck an Israeli liaison office, injuring two soldiers and a Palestinian.

In Gaza, witnesses said tanks and other armored vehicles entered the Rafah refugee camp from two directions. They were joined by special forces, including engineering units with dogs trained to uncover tunnels.

A military commander at the scene said that weapons smuggled in from Egypt to Gaza eventually make their way to the West Bank, so "we had no choice but to strike deep against the tunnels."

Government spokesman Dore Gold said Israel was pursuing militant groups and their infrastructure because the Palestinian leadership was not.

"In uncovering the vast network of arms smuggling tunnels in the area of Rafah, Israel is compelled again to do the work that the Palestinian Authority is supposed to do," Gold said.

The raid was the biggest in recent months. Israel had mounted dozens of smaller missions in the past weeks aimed at uncovering and destroying the tunnels, turning the Rafah refugee camp into a constant battlefield.

Friday's raid came just two days after the military ordered 800 active-duty soldiers to the West Bank and Gaza, canceling leaves and training courses, and ordered the continuation of a strict lockdown on Palestinian areas, reportedly at least through Oct. 22.

Shortly after the IDF discovered this weapons smuggling tunnel, they demolished the house above it. Palestinians stare at what was once a source of terrorism used against Israeli civilians. Photo: AP

Israeli military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel had intelligence warnings that Palestinians were planning to use tunnels under the border to smuggle in weapons that could have a strategic impact on the three-year Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the Egyptians were not taking steps to stop them.

The sources said that Palestinian terrorists were attempting to acquire missiles that could knock out tanks and aircraft, weapons they have not used up to now. These would include Stinger shoulder-mounted anti-aircraft missiles that could shoot down the attack helicopters Israel often uses in operations in Gaza, the sources said. Stinger missiles could also threaten Israeli warplanes or civilian aircraft flying close to Gaza.

Also, the sources said, the Palestinians were trying to smuggle Katyusha rockets, which would have the range to hit Israeli cities near Gaza. During the conflict, the Palestinians have been aiming homemade mortars and rockets at Israeli towns and settlements.

Earlier, at Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, in a heated closed-door meeting, Qureia suggested he no longer wanted to be prime minister, just four days after taking office, officials said. Arafat's spokesman said there were "serious differences" but denied Qureia had offered to resigned.

The 74-year-old Palestinian leader has appeared in poor health in recent days, triggering reports and rumors that he had had a heart attack or had stomach cancer or other severe illnesses. However, Arafat's personal physician, Dr. Ashraf al-Kurdi, and gastroenterologist Dr. Ala Toukan, told The Associated Press that those rumor were untrue.

Qureia's success is key to efforts to salvage the stalled U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, which outlines a path to ending three years of conflict and a Palestinian state by 2005.

Qureia has pledged to work to halt the violence, but Thursday's public embarrassment seemed to bode ill for his chances of survival.

As dozens of Palestinian legislators and hundreds of officials waited for nearly an hour and a half for the expected vote on Qureia's Cabinet, backdoor wrangling continued among members of Arafat's Fatah faction about the size and the makeup of the government.

Unable to agree on whether to confirm the eight-person emergency Cabinet appointed by Arafat on Sunday, the officials abruptly canceled the vote.

"Everyone has his own script and so we feel that we need more time. We are sorry for troubling you," Deputy Parliament Speaker Abraham Abu Najar told the waiting legislators.

The vote was tentatively rescheduled for Saturday. Until then, the Cabinet remains a temporary one that officials say can rule for a month only.

Some legislators objected to the very idea of legitimizing the emergency Cabinet, which was appointed without consultation — and some even insisted there was no provision in the law for a government being appointed by decree. Others favored confirming the Cabinet with a vote in the parliament but voiced objections to its small size.

"If this government were presented ... today it would have failed," said Salah Taamri, a Fatah legislator.

During the meeting with Arafat and the Fatah leadership, an exasperated Qureia told the Palestinian leader, "Just relieve me of this job," according to officials who were present. That sparked speculation he might have resigned, which Arafat aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh denied.

"There are serious differences, but it did not reach the point of resignation," Abu Rdeneh told reporters outside Arafat's Ramallah headquarters.

Violence continued Thursday in the West Bank when, a suicide bomber detonated explosives at an Israeli army base, killing himself and injuring two Israeli soldiers and a Palestinian.

The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack and identified the bomber as Ahmed Safadi, an 18-year-old high school student from the village of Oref south of Nablus.

The terror bomber walked up to an office at an Israeli army base near the West Bank town of Tulkarem where Palestinians apply for humanitarian permits to cross roadblocks and blew himself up, the army said.

The bombing came after Israel had ordered a special call-up Thursday of four reserve battalions to patrol the West Bank and Gaza.

Rafah Weapon Smuggling Tunnels Weapons Smuggled Into The Gaza Strip Since January 2003

Since January 2003, large amounts of diverse weapons have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip, including:

Dozens of RPG rockets and lauchers Hundreds of kilograms of explosives Hundreds of rifles (mainly AK-47 Kalashnikovs) Tens of thousands of bullets and other ammunition Thousands of cartridges

The Oslo Accords, signed in 1994-1995, granted the Palestinian Authority control over most of the Gaza Strip. The agreements specify that the IDF will continue to control a narrow strip between the area under Palestinian control and the border with Egypt, called the "Philadelphi Route." On both sides of the route are the towns of Palestinian Rafah and Egyptian Rafah.

During the ensuing years, the area has been used for smuggling, and rapidly became the main pipeline for transporting weapons and ammunition into the Gaza Strip. The smuggled weapons are then transferred to the rest of the Gaza Strip, comprising the majority of the weaponry in the Gaza Strip, which is then used for carrying out terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Currently, the area is used for smuggling weapons, drugs, goods and lately, human beings.

The smuggling business began in Rafah during the 1980's, due to the city's economic condition and geographic location. The smuggling is carried out mainly through tunnels dug under the border - while in the past smuggling took place overland as well.

Parallel to the smuggling industry in the area, the extremist Islamic infrastructure also developed, which increased the involvement of the residents in terrorist and smuggling activity.

The economic element comprises an important factor in channeling local residents and families into the weapons and ammunition smuggling industry. During this period, a large-scale smuggling industry developed in Rafah.

This industry comprises a primary source of income for entire families, and is the main source of income in the area. Due to the lucrative economic aspects of this industry, a power struggle has been raging between different clans and tribes over control of the smuggling.

The method of tunnel construction is complex and has evolved numerous times throughout the years. Currently, the construction of tunnels is overseen by Palestinian residents of Rafah who have specialized in this area over the years.

The smugglers in Rafah are now experts in digging tunnels and smuggling weapons. The smugglers participate in this activity in all its aspects.

The smugglers transport weapons for terrorist organizations, or for other elements who order firearms in exchange for money, and transfer money to Palestinians and Egyptians who own the house or land while the tunnel is dug.

These people are adapt at how to avoid detection of the tunnels, thus they build them in residential areas and use small children to construct the tunnels and smuggle the weapons.

2) Search for a suitable opening for the tunnel on the Egyptian side. The tunnel opening should be located in a house or within private property, to: allow the owner of the house to cross from one side to the other; to keep in accordance with agreements reached with Egyptian officials; for economic reasons, and to prevent discovery of the tunnel by Egyptian officials.

3) Choosing an engineer: An engineer who specializes in the excavations of tunnels is chosen. The engineer mobilizes and recruits individuals to construct the tunnel, and provides electric and hand-held tools for the job.

4) Duration of the excavation: The duration of the excavation may last anywhere from two weeks to two months based on the following conditions:

The number of workers digging Excavation equipment Depth and length of the tunnel Width of the tunnel Instructions for Exacavating the Tunnel:

1. Secrecy: Ensure that the building area of the tunnel construction remains secret. Do not allow members of any other family or clan to discover the tunnel.

2. Work at night: To guarantee that the tunnel is not discovered, and to conceal excavation activity from the IDF.

3. Transporting tunnel material: Transport the sand (from the excavation activity) away from the site in a vehicle.

1. Egyptian smugglers leave the merchandise at the entrance to the tunnel and depart.

2. Palestinian smugglers cross to the Egyptian side of the tunnel, and transport weapons and other merchandise to the Palestinian side.

3. Subsequent to the use of the tunnel, the subterranean passage is concealed to prevent discovery.

Part II: Activity Carried Out by Terrorist Organizations and Their Relationship with the Palestinian Authority

1. The Hamas terrorist organization utilizes the Rafah area to arm its members throughout the Gaza Strip. This effort is aided by senior Hamas members and terrorist organizations in various countries - who transport weapons throughout the Gaza Strip via the Rafah tunnels.

1. During the current armed conflict, the PFLP has smuggled weapons and explosives to the Gaza Strip.

2. This effort is aided by Iranian official, as part of Iranian efforts to to bolster the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. As part of the above-mentioned effort, Iranian officials have smuggled weapons to the PFLP, and maintain close contact with supporters based in Egypt.

1. The Palestinian Authority has aided in the above-mentioned terrorist activity since the beginning of the current armed conflict.

2. For example, the Palestinian Authority has encouraged residents to conceal tunnels in their residences, which results in the demolition of their houses.

3. Today, however, the demolition of a house in which a tunnel has been uncovered, brings with it an ample windfall, as well as the construction of a new house - built of concrete in the neighborhood of Tel-Sultan by the Palestinian Authority.

As a result, residents have even begun to construct fictious tunnels, and spread rumors about tunnels located under their houses in order to receive compensation from the Palestinian Authority after their home is demolished. Thus, the Palestinian Authority encourages the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip.

4. During the entire cease-fire period, the Palestinian Authority failed to deal with the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip, as it should have. This smuggling, during the cease-fire, served to arm the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip and strengthen the terrorist infrastructure in the area.

During the current armed conflict, the Palestinian Authority itself, through the "Re-armament Network," has been active in smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip via tunnels.

During the past year and a half, IDF forces have acted forcefully to prevent smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip.

In order to create a continuous cover of observation and fire, and as well as a physical blockade, a wall was errected. As part of the wall, the Termit and Hardon outposts were established.

During 2003, the IDF has uncovered and demolished 36 tunnels (specified later on) as well as a large number of houses and buildings from where the tunnels emerged.

Parallel to the process whereby the demolition of houses in which smuggling tunnels have been uncovered, provides financial compensation, there are those Palestinians who reject the digging of the tunnels both from houses they own or from neighboring houses.

CHEAP THRILLS - $1 (the first one's free!)

If every FR member gave a buck a month, we wouldn't need fundraisers. Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794

or you can use

PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com

STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD-
It is in the breaking news sidebar!

Seems like ~50,000 gallons of low octane gasoline poured down the hole, and one carefully tossed match, would do the trick.

It'd be more fun to seal the other end of the tunnels first, tho....

"Refugee Camps" with electricity, water, sanitation, paved roads, political, social and governmental infostructure!! Sure sounds like towns and cities to me but as someone else said. by calling them camps, we get to pay for these homicide terrorists to live and breathe through our good friends, the rest of the world and the U. N. By keeping this status unchanged for the last 50 or so years, they have no motivation to become part of the rest of the world.

On top of it all, stomache ache Arafart and his multimillions of our tax-payer money hidden in France and other places around the world, seeks to never change this status because he will then become ACCOUNTABLE to his followers. What do you expect from an Egyptian refugee, himself? And what about all those Palistinian businesses he owns or controls in these so-called "refugee camps"? These are all people looking for the big buck at others hard work. Nothing new here, move on.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.