Hamas gets Iranian plans for improved Qassams

[bemildred]

Hamas militants who recently returned to the Gaza Strip after training in Iran have a detailed plan for upgrading the capabilities of the rockets being developed in the Strip, according to senior Palestinian Authority sources.

A senior Palestinian source told Haaretz this week that members of Hamas' military wing smuggled blueprints and other detailed technical instructions into the Strip that will enable the group to develop rockets capable of striking at longer distances.

The PA source was unable to estimate the actual distance that these upgrades will allow the Qassam rockets to cover, but said that the aim is to strike at communities north of Ashkelon, which is approximately 15 kilometers north of the northern border of the Strip. Israeli security sources said recently that Islamic Jihad militants in the Gaza Strip have developed their own upgraded version of the Qassam rocket, with an estimated range of 18 kilometers.

Iran is investing significant efforts in trying to increase the striking distance of the rockets manufactured by Palestinians in Gaza. The militants there have only a limited supply of Grad-type Katyusha rockets, capable of striking targets 20 kilometers away.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/969359.html

[Vegasaurus]

1. Imagine if they put half that "education effort", that "development capability" (lol)

into something meaningful, rather than attempts to kill Israelis.

It could really be a turning point for the Palestinians.

[bemildred]

2. I was taken with the statement

that Iran can freely smuggle in rockets by sea ...

[azurnoir]

3. Where do they land?

Are we to "assume" Egypt? That leads to many other questions......

[bemildred]

5. Well, I thought the implication was the Gaza shore.

It seems a most unlikely claim to me.

[bemildred]

6. It reads like this:

"although Iran has smuggled more Katyushas, made by its own military industries, into the Strip by sea"

[azurnoir]

7. I read the article but that part

went past me apparently, landing in Gaza, so those wily Iranians can past Israeli patrol boats? Was more struck by if it is so easy to smuggle them in why train "militants" to build them at home?

With all te weapons exporting Iran is being claimed to be doing almost have to wonder if they got in on Victor Bouts "going out business" sale:sarcasm:

[Igel]

8. But apparently not the much, much bulkier

drugs and other medical supplies.

Katyusha versus a box of chemotherapy drugs. Life versus honor. Their choice. Pretty much the same one they've usually had, so we know what their choice will be.

[Vegasaurus]

14. Weapons always seem to take precedent

over anything that would actually advance the Palestinian society.

As long as violence is the preferred, or only, economy, the people suffer. Very sad.

[msmcghee]

4. Wow! If they improve their capabilities enough . .

. . they could end up like Southern Lebanon did in the summer of 2006. What a wonderful future for the Palestinian people to look forward to.

[subsuelo]

9. The threat of terrorism is as real for Palestinians as it is for Israelis

Thank you for proving that point.

[pelsar]

10. whats so confusing to you?

if the Palestinians (hamas, IJ, etc) in gaza would not trying killing jews everyday..not try bombing their cities everyday..they would then be able to live a life without IDF incursions, etc.

this really doesnt get any simpler ....or perhaps you believe that if hamas and friends in gaza didnt attack israel everyday, then the israelis would keep on attacking gaza because____________ (this is a fill in the blank, see if you can do it)

[azurnoir]

11. Israel would let bygones be bygones?

No incursions in to Gaza simply of course to "arrest" those militant leaders with Jewish blood on their hands?

[pelsar]

12. never been tried....has it?

since hamas and friends insist on shooting rockets daily we'll never know...and in the meantime the gazas lives keep getting more and more miserable......

(the gaza withdrawl was a brilliant move...though granted it takes people a very long time to accept the change....
that egypt does actually control its own border, and has shut it down
that kassams are being shot almost daily, for no other reason than to terrorize
that hamas prefer guns over butter

that it is the Palestinian govt in gaza that prefers "resistance" to an improved life style for its citizens
that when hamas rules and starts to put into place the theocratic rules that it believes in....the "left" doesnt notice and doesnt really care..... clarifying that the issue is not one of human rights, etc...its more about nationalism......

[Shaktimaan]

13. All hyperbole aside, do you really see no difference between what Hamas does

and what the IDF does? Do you honestly consider both of them equal acts in terms of fulfilling the definition of terrorism?

[subsuelo]

15. Absolutely. No difference.

In fact I find it rather difficult to fathom how anyone paying attention could fail to see it that way.