"oddly worded announcement"

Tuesday, January 30, 2007
"Political echelon" decides to OK Thwarting Terror Attack Thwarted Via Attack of Tunnel Near Karni

Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: This is the most oddly worded announcement I have
ever read from the IDF. It would appear to be an indictment of the Olmert
Administration by the IDF with the clear message that the Olmert
Administration has been preventing the IDF from acting to thwart terror.
The message ends with the standard line "[T]he IDF will continue to use all
means at its disposal against the terror infrastructure in the area of the
Gaza Strip in order to provide security for the citizens of Israel." but the
first sentence makes it clear that "use all means at its disposal" is
subject to "a decision made by the political echelon".
============

January 30th, 2007
IDF SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCMENT

Terror attack thwarted via attack of tunnel near Karni crossing

In accordance with a decision made by the political echelon, the IDF carried
out an aerial attack against a tunnel located near the Karni crossing, a
short while ago, on January 30th 2007. The intention of the tunnel was to be
used in order to carry out a terror attack against Israeli civilians in the
immediate future.

The terrorist organizations continue to act against the interest of the
Palestinian population and make cynical use of the area of the Karni
crossing, which serves as one of the main lifelines of the Palestinian
population- allowing the passage of merchandise and medical supplies in and
out of the Gaza Strip.

This is not the first attempt to carry out a terrorist attack in the Karni
crossing area. On August 27th 2006, following intricate and ongoing
intelligence-gathering activity by the IDF and ISA, security forces
uncovered a tunnel dug from within the Gaza Strip in the direction of the
Karni crossing. The tunnel was intended to be used in order to carry out a
large-scale terror attack, apparently in the crossing itself. Forces
uncovered the shaft (13 meters depth) and main infrastructure (150 meters
length) of the tunnel. The tunnel entrance was found inside a house in the
residential area of Sajaiya.

The IDF will continue to use all means at its disposal against the terror
infrastructure in the area of the Gaza Strip in order to provide security
for the citizens of Israel.

email: imra@netvision.net.il