2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac
2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac
2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac
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ISRAEL AT RISK<br />
believes the complete annihilation of Israel can be the only resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian<br />
conflict, and its leaders repeatedly proclaim that Hamas will never recognize Israel. Hamas has<br />
carried out more than 100 suicide bombings and shooting attacks, killing more than 500 civilians.<br />
The victims of these attacks include more than two dozen U.S. citizens, including five students.<br />
In response to the worst wave of terrorism in its history—Hamas and other terrorist groups killed<br />
more than 1,000 Israelis between 2000 and 2005—Israel built a security fence along the West Bank<br />
to prevent terrorists from infiltrating Israel. In combination with recent efforts by the U.S.-trained<br />
Palestinian Authority security forces, these steps have led to a dramatic decrease in terrorism.<br />
With Israel’s success in the West Bank, Hamas stepped up its rocket attacks against Israeli cities<br />
and towns near the Gaza Strip. Since violently taking control of Gaza from Palestinian Authority<br />
President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah forces in June 2007, Hamas has turned the Strip into a staging<br />
ground for thousands of rocket attacks.<br />
Since Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas has utilized an expansive tunnel network under the<br />
border between Gaza and Egypt to transport an increasing quantity and quality of weaponry. Hamas<br />
has stockpiled thousands of Qassam and Katyusha rockets, mortar shells, rocket-propelled grenades,<br />
anti-tank missiles, explosives and explosive materials, as well as assault rifles to use against Israel. Iran<br />
plays a vital role in funding, supplying and transporting these weapons through Sudan and the Sinai<br />
Peninsula and, eventually, into tunnels leading to Gaza. With the fall of the Qaddafi regime in Libya and<br />
the Mubarak regime in Egypt, Hamas also is smuggling arms from Libya through Egypt into Gaza, and<br />
attacking Israel across its southern border with Egypt.<br />
Hamas has killed more than 500 civilians, including two dozen Americans, in suicide bombings and other attacks<br />
inside Israel.<br />
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