Israel builds underground wall after Gaza tunnel trauma

[RISING SUN]

Israel builds underground wall after Gaza tunnel trauma

Heavy machinery works on a massive underground barrier, that is expected to stretch along the entire 40-mile border when it is complete, on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza. — AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov, File

Tsafrir Abayov

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KIBBUTZ NIRIM, Israel — Israel is pressing ahead with construction of an underground barrier along the border with the Gaza Strip in an ambitious project meant to halt the threat of attack tunnels built by the Hamas militant group.

Cranes and work crews are digging holes and installing sensors and other equipment for a structure that is expected to stretch along the entire 40-mile border when it is complete.

Gadi Yarkoni, head of the local Eshkol regional council, said the project is a key reason that the area has enjoyed a surge in growth and attracted young families since a devastating war with Hamas three years ago.

“I believe building the barrier is the right thing to do, to build in order to stop and to give an answer to the issue of the tunnels, and to the issue of the communities in the area,” he said. “The surge in development in this area is unbelievable.”

During the 2014 war, Hamas militants on several occasions made their way into Israel through a tunnel network that caught Israel off guard. Although they did not manage to reach civilian areas, the infiltrations terrified the local population. Israel destroyed 32 tunnels during that conflict, and since then has made neutralizing the tunnel threat a top priority.

Israeli defense officials have said little about the new barrier project or how much has been completed. At one construction zone, a sign said “military zone — no passage,” and Associated Press reporters could not approach as cranes and bulldozers were at work.

Last week, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, head of Israel’s Southern Command, which is responsible for Gaza, told reporters the project would take about two years to complete.

He said the barrier would stretch several yards above and below ground and be equipped with sophisticated sensors. It’s being built entirely on the Israeli side of the border, to avoid friction with Hamas.

Atai Shelach, a retired colonel and former commander of the Israeli military’s “Yahalom” unit in charge of dismantling the militants’ tunnels, said the new barrier would be a game-changer, but would not solve the problem on its own.

“It is part of a cocktail, or a combination of many other solutions,” he said. Neutralizing the tunnel threat will also require good intelligence and operational decisions by the army, he said. Otherwise, militants will eventually figure out how to get through.

“That barrier can prevent war,” he said, because it will be harder for Hamas and other militant groups to “create surprises” that frighten Israeli residents.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007.

While Hamas has largely respected a cease-fire that ended the last round of fighting in 2014, it is believed to be building new tunnels and re-arming in preparation for future conflict.

Hamas seeks Israel’s destruction.

“All the measures by the occupation on the border will not provide security for them,” said Hazem Qasem, a spokesman for the group. “As long as they occupy the Palestinian land and put a siege on our people in the Gaza Strip, the resistance will continue to possess all the means of force that enable it to defend the people against Israeli aggression,” he said. — (AP)

Israeli residents expressed mixed feelings about the new structure.

Miriam Diener, a resident of Kibbutz Nirim, a communal farm near the Gaza border, said Israel must seek peace with its neighbors, and not just build new barriers.

“No fence will solve the problems,” she said. “Only peace will bring the possibility of a good economy, good education, good hospitals, good health. That is what is needed.”

But Shimon Avraham, another kibbutz resident, said the project will put people at ease after the terrifying experience of tunnel attacks.

“Now it makes things feel calmer,” he said. — (AP)
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/isra...cle_ebeba24a-2c2f-5faa-916c-f8db0690228d.html

 

[Falcon29]

Curse be upon this lying journalist, may God punish him and all other liars in the world whether Muslim, Jewish, atheist, Hindu , Buddhist, Christian, etc.... Liars like these are playing with the lives of human beings and contributing to dehumanization efforts. They promote propaganda and oppose peace.

The liar insinuates that the tunnels are intended to target civilians. They are not, there are no civilians anywhere near the border. They lead up to military bases and military buildups and only used in the event of an Israeli ground incursion. There is published evidence by Hamas showing this. The successful operations against Israeli army outposts ended right there and then, they could have moved forward into civilian areas but didn't.

....
....

Miriam Diener, a resident of Kibbutz Nirim, a communal farm near the Gaza border, said Israel must seek peace with its neighbors, and not just build new barriers.

“No fence will solve the problems,” she said. “Only peace will bring the possibility of a good economy, good education, good hospitals, good health. That is what is needed.”

^^^

That is an example of an honest Israeli. No Palestinian or Israeli seeks more violence, at least the majority don't. Peace is long overdue and people want to live normal lives and be prosperous. A two state solution will achieve this.

 

[Ilay]

Curse be upon this lying journalist, may God punish him and all other liars in the world whether Muslim, Jewish, atheist, Hindu , Buddhist, Christian, etc.... Liars like these are playing with the lives of human beings and contributing to dehumanization efforts. They promote propaganda and oppose peace.

The liar insinuates that the tunnels are intended to target civilians. They are not, there are no civilians anywhere near the border. They lead up to military bases and military buildups and only used in the event of an Israeli ground incursion. There is published evidence by Hamas showing this. The successful operations against Israeli army outposts ended right there and then, they could have moved forward into civilian areas but didn't.

....
....

Miriam Diener, a resident of Kibbutz Nirim, a communal farm near the Gaza border, said Israel must seek peace with its neighbors, and not just build new barriers.

“No fence will solve the problems,” she said. “Only peace will bring the possibility of a good economy, good education, good hospitals, good health. That is what is needed.”

^^^

That is an example of an honest Israeli. No Palestinian or Israeli seeks more violence, at least the majority don't. Peace is long overdue and people want to live normal lives and be prosperous. A two state solution will achieve this.

Habibi, I too do not wish for any more bloodshed for any side, for the siege to be lifted and a prosperous Palestinian Gaza strip. But you have to agree with me here - Hamas has done too much to make everyone's life much worse for them to be still seen as a legitimate ruler for the Palestinians living there. Qatari Muslim-brotherhood is playing with human lives for their own sick gains. And I believe that I have a bit more life experience then you when it comes to the strip to tell you that Hamas was caught red handed for multiple time using the first-line of buildings facing Israel to be armed with wide arrange of weapons like AT launchers, mortars and snipers by myself with my own two eyes and the rest of the soldiers who served with me. We are not monsters and I will only say this once: we don't wish death and destruction upon the citizens of the Strip the slightest.

 

[Falcon29]

Habibi, I too do not wish for any more bloodshed for any side, for the siege to be lifted and a prosperous Palestinian Gaza strip. But you have to agree with me here - Hamas has done too much to make everyone's life much worse for them to be still seen as a legitimate ruler for the Palestinians living there. Qatari Muslim-brotherhood is playing with human lives for their own sick gains. And I believe that I have a bit more life experience then you when it comes to the strip to tell you that Hamas was caught red handed for multiple time using the first-line of buildings facing Israel to be armed with wide arrange of weapons like AT launchers, mortars and snipers by myself with my own two eyes and the rest of the soldiers who served with me. We are not monsters and I will only say this once: we don't wish death and destruction upon the citizens of the Strip the slightest.

By prosperity, I mean that the majority of the people want to live a good quality life, able to get education and settle down with friends and family in security, not being disabled or haunted by the conflict. This can be achieved through a two state solution.

As for Gaza, I don't believe Israel's approach is justified nor do I believe Hamas was right in everything. Most of Palestinians criticism of Hamas is regarding internal matters. So believe me, we do criticize them where they deserve it. I do not defend Hamas on occasions just because they are associated with Gaza. I am not originally from Gaza and remember Gaza used to be bastion of Fatah not long ago, they were dominating it. Hamas has a point on certain matters, and they are wrong on some matters.

I respectfully disagree with the notion about the Muslim Brotherhood. Outsiders thing there is an attachment to an global or foreign agenda. As someone with great familiarity and experience with Gaza, I can tell you that is not the case. There are legitimate grievances. Our people do not trust Israel or the international community. Put Hamas's political wing aside for a moment. The armed wing is akin to the Egyptian military, minus it's involvement in civilian affairs. Only recently have they assisted with border security. Besides that, they are people with genuine grievances that believe they are responsible for the matters of the nation or Palestinian people. Their role is thus a national role that is not influenced by foreigners, they view it as a duty to make sure the Palestinian people don't make past mistakes, especially with disarmament.

Now as for asymmetrical tactics, we can get into that discussion but I don't think it will achieve anything. It will be a long one that will serve no purpose. It's better to detail Israeli army in the IDF thread, and Palestinian military 'apparatus' in the Palestinian thread. Just as that interests people here.

I believe you that there are good people in your army. And I can assure you there are good people among the Palestinian armed wings. They may not stand for what you believe in, but that doesn't make them bad. If you can have an objective and fair view like that, you will see the world in a different way. And our peoples all need to do that to achieve peace. I know there are ordinary people in the Israeli army. I do not approve of what is occurring in the West Bank nor the strategy taking place in Gaza. I can explain why but the post will get too long. I don't want to get into war ethics too much, but for me personally, I believe that dropping a bomb on a house is no different than executing 5 civilians at gunpoint. I believe your Air Force is a bit reckless, doesn't operate based on ethical procedures but rather trying to achieve war objectives such as infrastructure damage. That does not mean you are only ones that way, everyone in the world is. In a perfect world that could be changed.

 

[Ilay]

By prosperity, I mean that the majority of the people want to live a good quality life, able to get education and settle down with friends and family in security, not being disabled or haunted by the conflict. This can be achieved through a two state solution.

As for Gaza, I don't believe Israel's approach is justified nor do I believe Hamas was right in everything. Most of Palestinians criticism of Hamas is regarding internal matters. So believe me, we do criticize them where they deserve it. I do not defend Hamas on occasions just because they are associated with Gaza. I am not originally from Gaza and remember Gaza used to be bastion of Fatah not long ago, they were dominating it. Hamas has a point on certain matters, and they are wrong on some matters.

I respectfully disagree with the notion about the Muslim Brotherhood. Outsiders thing there is an attachment to an global or foreign agenda. As someone with great familiarity and experience with Gaza, I can tell you that is not the case. There are legitimate grievances. Our people do not trust Israel or the international community. Put Hamas's political wing aside for a moment. The armed wing is akin to the Egyptian military, minus it's involvement in civilian affairs. Only recently have they assisted with border security. Besides that, they are people with genuine grievances that believe they are responsible for the matters of the nation or Palestinian people. Their role is thus a national role that is not influenced by foreigners, they view it as a duty to make sure the Palestinian people don't make past mistakes, especially with disarmament.

Now as for asymmetrical tactics, we can get into that discussion but I don't think it will achieve anything. It will be a long one that will serve no purpose. It's better to detail Israeli army in the IDF thread, and Palestinian military 'apparatus' in the Palestinian thread. Just as that interests people here.

I believe you that there are good people in your army. And I can assure you there are good people among the Palestinian armed wings. They may not stand for what you believe in, but that doesn't make them bad. If you can have an objective and fair view like that, you will see the world in a different way. And our peoples all need to do that to achieve peace. I know there are ordinary people in the Israeli army. I do not approve of what is occurring in the West Bank nor the strategy taking place in Gaza. I can explain why but the post will get too long. I don't want to get into war ethics too much, but for me personally, I believe that dropping a bomb on a house is no different than executing 5 civilians at gunpoint. I believe your Air Force is a bit reckless, doesn't operate based on ethical procedures but rather trying to achieve war objectives such as infrastructure damage. That does not mean you are only ones that way, everyone in the world is. In a perfect world that could be changed.

Very well, I respect your view yet respectfully disagree with certain parts of it.