B'NAI ELIM (Sons of the Mighty): *** THE REALITY

B'nai Elim Blogmaster's Disclaimer

Please note: The Blogmaster of this Blog is retired from B’nai Elim and was their former International Chairman and Chief of Intelligence and Security. Prior to forming B’nai Elim, he was a long time member and became the International Chairman of the Jewish Defense League, succeeding Irv Rubin (OBM) to that post. The items posted in this Blog do not necessarily reflect the opinions of B’nai Elim or its members and are the sole responsibility of the Blogmaster, Velvel ben Moshe, aka: Bill Maniaci who is currently the Director of "The Maccabee Group" doing Independent Intelligence Consulting & Analysis.

26 December 2008

* THE REALITY - AGGRESSION AGAINST ISRAEL *

Blogmaster: The information below shows what we are dealing with on a daily basis in Israel. This information can be seen on the following web site and should be visited regularly for updates on our military situation: http://www.weaponsurvey.com/

WEAPONS SURVEY

PALESTINIAN WEAPONS PRODUCTION AND SMUGGLING

December 24-25, 2008:

Rockets Impact in Ashkelon

- All Israeli towns within a 30-kilometer radius of the Gaza Strip are linked to a rocket early warning system.

- Among the newly-connected towns and cities are Ofakim and Netivot. - Ashdod, with its center just outside the 30-kilometer mark, is expected to be connected to the system within the next 24 hours.

- Hamas legislator Mushir al-Masri: "Hamas will hit not only Sderot, but also what lies beyond Sderot."

-Iz al-Din al-Qassam: "Thousands of additional Israelis will soon be within the range of our rockets if Israel continues with its aggression." The residents of the south will stay in the bomb shelters for a long time...threats of an [Israeli] military offensive don't scare us because we are more prepared than ever."

- The defense establishment prepares for a military op against Hamas targets in Gaza.

- An IAF strike kills a Hamas terrorist in the southern Gaza Strip.

- Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fire a barrage of projectiles at the western Negev.

- At least 100 projectiles are launched at southern Israel. One of them damages a house in Kibbutz Sha'ar Hanegev.

- A number of rockets hit Netivot.

- Two Grad-type missiles impact in Ashkelon.

- The defense establishment has ordered Gaza border crossings to remain closed in response to the attacks.

(Amos Harel, Barak Ravid and Avi Issacharoff, "Rocket Barrage Pounds Negev, Burdening Efforts to Renew Truce with Gaza," Ha'aretz, December 24, 2008; Avi Issacharoff and Barak Ravid, "Cabinet Approves Gaza Op After 80 Missiles Hit Israel," Ha'aretz, December 25, 2008).
------------------------------------------

December 22, 2008:

IDF Criticizes Current Reality

IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen Gabi Ashkenazi tells Army Radio that the current reality is unacceptable.

"It's impossible to accept a reality where Gaza-belt residents are getting wounded. Hamas is responsible for this, and we will deal with them. The IDF is prepared for every possible operation that could be required in the Gaza Strip. I present the different options to the political echelons, and we'll do what we're ordered to do.

Hamas is always trying to improve the range and quality of its missiles. [Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Yuval Diskin's comments on Sunday] didn't tell us anything we didn't already know. We're regularly keeping track of the type and quality of Hamas's weapons."

Diskin had told the cabinet that terror group now fielded weapons with the ability to reach "Kiryat Gat, Ashdod and the outskirts of Beersheba." ("Ashkenazi: Current Reality Unacceptable," Jerusalem Post, December 22, 2008).

------------------------------------------
December 20, 2008:

Southern Israel Under Fire

- Palestinian terrorists in northern Gaza fire four rockets at Sderot. - One rocket impacts near a local factory, while another projectile lands in close proximity to a kibbutz in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. - At least 14 Qassams and 26 mortars are fired at the western Negev region. - A barrage of mortar shells and one rocket strikes a kibbutz in the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council, damaging a youth center. - An additional 12 mortar shells are fired in close proximity to the Gaza Strip perimeter fence near the Eshkol Regional Council. (Ilana Curiel, "Four Qassams Fired Towards Sderot; No Injuries," YnetNews, December 20, 2008).

-----------------------------------------------------

December 19, 2008:

Western Negev Shelled

- Hamas officials in Gaza and Beirut announce that the so-called "truce" has lapsed. - Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fire three Qassam rockets at the western Negev. - Two of the rockets impact in open fields in the Eshkol region, while the third slams into the Sha'ar Hanegev area. - Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fire at farmers near Kibbutz Nir Oz, in the Eshkol region. - Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for the attacks. (Yaakov Katz and Khaled Abu Toameh, "3 Kassams Hit South, Gunmen Fire at Farmers as Truce Ends," Jerusalem Post, December 19, 2008).
-------------------------------------------------------

December 18, 2008:

IDF Targets Pal Artillery Cells

-"In response to the continuous rocket fire from the Gaza Strip upon Israeli territory, IDF forces carried out four aerial strikes against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours. The first strike, Wednesday (Dec. 17) morning, targeted a loaded rocket launcher in northern Gaza. The second target, that afternoon, was a Qassam rocket launching squad also in northern Gaza. This squad was prepped to launch a Qassam rocket at Israel. Wednesday night, IAF fighter jets and helicopters struck two terrorist infrastructure sites in the Gaza Strip. The first site was an arsenal in Jebalya RC in northern Gaza. The second site was a rocket and explosives production facility in the city of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. The targets were successfully struck and the aircraft returned to their bases unharmed." ("IAF Strikes Four Terrorist Sites in the Gaza Strip," IDF Spokesperson's Office, December 18, 2008).
---------------------------------------------------------

December 17, 2008:

Russia: MIG's to Lebanon

Russia has reportedly agreed to supply Lebanon with 10 MiG-29 fighter jets. According to Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr, the fighter deliveries will provide a fresh impetus for military cooperation between the two countries. The planes will apparently be sold at a "hefty discount." (Yoav Stern, "Russia to Supply Lebanon with 10 MiG-29 Fighter Jets," Ha'aretz, December 17, 2008; ).

-----------------------------------------------

December 16, 2008:

Iran Claims UAV Development

-Iran claims that it has manufactured a new generation of "spy drones" capable of providing almost real time access to aerial intelligence. Head of the Aerospace Faculty at Iran's Amir Kabir University of Technology Mahmoud Mani: "Iran's domestically-manufactured micro unmanned aerial vehicle would be used in research projects." Meanwhile, a senior Iranian military officer notes that the government is expected to upgrade its missile production division in an effort to boost the country's defense capabilities. Head of the Aerospace Organization in the Defense Ministry, Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi: "The reforms are intended to promote efficiency and help fulfill the requirements of the country's Armed Forces." ("Iran Succeeds in Building Micro Drones (UAV's)," FarsNews, December 16, 2008; "Iran Succeeds in Building Micro Drones UAV's," FarsNews, December 16, 2008).
---------------------------------------------------------

December 16, 2008:

Islamic Jihad Commander Killed

IDF forces kill senior Islamic Jihad commander Jihad Nwada in Jenin. Nwada, who attempted to escape, was killed during an exchange of fire. According to security forces, Nwada belonged to a cell that planning to execute a terror attack in the near future. ("IDF Kills Senior Islamic Jihad Terrorist in Jenin Arrest Op," Jerusalem Post, December 16, 2008).