Israel's 2005 Terrorism Review

Terrorist attacks during the tahdia - geographical breakdown:

Inside the Green Line (23 Feb 2004 - 21 Jan 2005) - 212
Inside the Green Line (22 Jan 2005 - 20 Dec 2005) - 195

Judea (23 Feb 2004 - 21 Jan 2005) - 288
Judea (22 Jan 2005 - 20 Dec 2005) - 379

Samaria (23 Feb 2004 - 21 Jan 2005) - 751
Samaria (22 Jan 2005 - 20 Dec 2005) - 677

Gaza Strip (23 Feb 2004 - 21 Jan 2005) - 2,637
Gaza Strip (22 Jan 2005 - 20 Dec 2005) - 1,205

Potential suicide terrorists arrested in Judea and Samaria in 2005, breakdown by organization:

Hamas - 29
Islamic Jihad - 59
Tanzim - 47
PFLP - 14
Other - 11


Efforts by terrorist organizations in Judea and Samaria to establish infrastructures for the production of mortar rounds and rockets

During 2005, the terrorist organizations have increased their efforts to establish infrastructures for producing mortar rounds and rockets in Judea and Samaria in order to both circumvent the obstacle posed by the security fence in infiltrating suicide terrorists into Israel and to move the main focus of their efforts to Judea and Samaria following the implementation of the Disengagement Plan. In 2005, eight such infrastructures (four affiliated with Hamas and four with the Tanzim and Islamic Jihad) were uncovered. See http://tinyurl.com/75698, http://tinyurl.com/dfwta, http://tinyurl.com/awuqy & http://tinyurl.com/djspe for details.

Smuggling of arms, ammunition and explosives into the Gaza Strip during 2005

The withdrawal of the IDF from the Philadelphi corridor in September 2005 led to a significant increase in the quantity of arms and ammunition smuggled into the Gaza Strip in comparison to first eight months of 2005. Since 12 September 2005, over five tons of explosives, approximately 200 anti-tank rocket launchers, approximately 350 anti-tank rockets, approximately 5,000 automatic rifles, over one million rounds of ammunition and a limited number of anti-aircraft rockets have been smuggled from Egypt into the Gaza Strip. The peak of this smuggling occurred during 12-18 September 2005. In comparison, approximately 200 anti-tank rocket launchers, approximately 50 anti-tank rockets, approximately 1,800 automatic rifles and a considerable amount of ammunition were smuggled in during the first eight months of 2005.

The foregoing smuggling is part of the terrorist organizations' efforts to build up their strength in preparation for a possible resumption of fighting after the collapse of the 'tahdia'.

Their declared commitments notwithstanding, members of the various Palestinian Authority (PA) security services that are deployed along the border with Egypt continue to play an active part in the smuggling of arms and ammunition.

Smuggling from the Gaza Strip into Israel via the Sinai and Negev

Since the departure of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip (including the Philadelphi corridor), there has been a dramatic increase in attempts to perpetrate terrorist attacks in Israel and establish terrorist infrastructures in Judea and Samaria by exploiting the unfenced Sinai-Negev border area.

This area is also used by smugglers, criminals and persons looking for work illegally in Israel.

Frequently, there is close cooperation between terrorists and criminal elements in southern Israel. See http://tinyurl.com/74gnh

Hamas and Islamic Jihad in 2005

Hamas was intensively involved in terrorist actions throughout 2005 despite the 'tahdia'; see http://tinyurl.com/cfv45, http://tinyurl.com/dubqj, http://tinyurl.com/8rj85, http://tinyurl.com/cr7g5, http://tinyurl.com/cgsl9, http://tinyurl.com/cussy & for a representative, not exhaustive, sampling.

Hamas was responsible for the suicide bombing at the Beersheba bus station on 28 August 2005 in which two security guards were seriously wounded.

In September 2005, Hamas terrorists abducted and murdered Jerusalem businessman Sasson Nuriel.

While refraining from publicly claiming responsibility for terror attacks, maintaining the outward semblance of abiding by the 'tahdia', or declared calm, Hamas assisted other terrorist groups in carrying out attacks against Israel.

Hamas is due to participate in the upcoming PA elections without having disarmed or renounced terrorism (see http://tinyurl.com/d2e9t).

Islamic Jihad was also intensively involved in terrorist actions throughout 2005 despite the 'tahdia'; see http://tinyurl.com/5bys6, http://tinyurl.com/d7n2f & http://tinyurl.com/9py6k) for a representative - not exhaustive - sampling. The organization particularly benefited from the PA's ineffectualness and refusal to take any tangible action against it (see http://tinyurl.com/9wp8p).

The security forces foiled numerous planned Islamic Jihad terrorist attacks in 2005; see http://tinyurl.com/8zbjb, http://tinyurl.com/a3dkl, http://tinyurl.com/cudqz (and several previous links) for a representative - not exhaustive - sampling.