“Hamas, Hezbollah Could Push Israel To War”
Mar 4, 2010
By David Eshel
Tel Aviv
SNIPPET: “Israel is always on high alert when it comes to the potential for war with its neighbors, particularly the two groups viewed as proxies of Iran and Syria: Hamas and Hezbollah. Though neither seems particularly eager for a full-blown conflict with Israel at present, defense analysts see a number of developments that could lead to another war with one or both, perhaps as soon as this year.
One reason for this view is that Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon continue to be supplied with ordnance from Iran. Thousands of Hezbollah rockets are poised to strike Israel again, though for almost four years the border between Lebanon and northern Israel has been remarkably quiet. One reason may be that 11,000 soldiers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and 15,000 Lebanese army troops are more effective at keeping Hezbollah’s Shiite militia at bay. The tranquility may be illusory—Tehran and Damascus could encourage Hamas and Hezbollah to attack Israel in furtherance of their regional aims. Iran has also threatened retaliation if Israel attacks its nuclear program; and with popular unrest a constant threat to the leadership in Tehran, a war with Israel, fought through Hamas or Hezbollah, could be one way of diverting Iranian public attention away from the regime.
Other developments are raising tensions as well.”
Note: The following news brief is a quote:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3865127,00.html
IDF nabs 152 infiltrators on Egypt border
Published: 03.19.10, 13:18 / Israel News
One hundred fifty two infiltrators were intercepted near the Israel-Egypt border during the past 24 hours, in separate incidents. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of infiltration attempts into Israel. (Hanan Greenberg)