It is only a matter of time before Hamas uses the long range missiles capable of hitting Ashdod and Kiryat Gat, Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin said Sunday Diskin warned that until the Philadelphi corridor between Rafah and Egypt is totally sealed off, Hamas will continue to receive smuggled weapons, rockets, missiles and other high quality weaponry.
The Shin Bet chief also noted that Israel's delay in dealing with the situation and stalling a possible military operation in the Gaza Strip to hamper the terror infrastructure, only serves to enhance Hamas' capability. Diskin however failed to propose a concrete alternative or any other plan at the cabinet meeting that would address the situation.
Israel said Diskin faces two scenarios, one of possible escalation and one that may lead to a period of calm but with low chances of stability. Chances of a successful ceasefire with Hamas he said are low due to the differences of position between the sides.
According to Diskin, Hamas is skeptical of the current cease-fire talks bearing any fruit, but has still not closed the door to contacts with the Egyptians on the matter. The Egyptians, he said, were still earnestly working to reach an agreement, because it served their national interest, since they were worried that chaos in the Gaza Strip could lead to a mass exodus to Egypt.
According to Diskin, Hamas wants a truce, and is especially keen on seeing the siege lifted - especially, but not solely, by opening the Rafah crossing into Gaza. They also want a commitment from the Egyptians that if the cease-fire talks fail, they will open the Rafah crossing nonetheless. 05/26/08
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