A ranking naval officer is warning that Israel can expect infiltration attempts from the sea similar to an Oct. 9 incident in which a terrorist attempted to reach Israel on a jet ski.
Addressing military correspondents Monday at Navy Day observances, Maj. Gen. Ami Ayalon said he expects that infiltration attempts, launched by fundamentalist groups opposed to Israel’s self-rule accord with the Palestine Liberation Organization, could be expected to come mainly from Lebanon.
But he did not rule out the possibility of attacks coming from the Red Sea or from the Mediterranean near the Gaza Strip.
“The terrorists continue to conduct sea maneuvers, especially in the Tripoli area of northern Lebanon,” Ayalon said.
Infiltration attempts could be expected “by a range of methods,” he said.
Ayalon said terrorist organizations possess many speedboats and other sailing equipment, including fast water scooters, or jet skis, such as that used in the Oct. 9 attempt to reach the coast south of Rosh Hanikra, a town near Israel’s border with Lebanon.
Members of the PLO’s Al Fatah organization in Lebanon who oppose the self-rule accord were joining opposition groups and taking their weapons with them, he said.
The navy commander said that Israel intends to acquire some $2 billion in new equipment.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
