The terrorist group Hamas is using increasingly sophisticated weaponry to attack Israel, employing longer-range, Iranian-supplied rockets that put more than 250,000 Israelis living in southern cities, such as Ashkelon, within striking range.
Israelis received a painful reminder of Hamas' capabilities on May 14, when a Katyusha-style Grad rocket slammed into a shopping mall in Ashkelon, wounding dozens of people, including a two-year-old girl. Israeli police commander Maj. Gen. Uriel Bar-Lev said bomb experts had determined that the rocket "has Iranian fingerprints on it." Hamas lauded the attack.
In the face of such assaults, the United States has consistently reiterated Israel's right to defend itself and denounced Hamas, which has deliberately targeted civilians.
But that May 14 attack represented merely a small component of Hamas' terrorist infrastructure.
Hamas is smuggling into Gaza longer-range rockets, anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft missiles and other advanced weapons intended to kill Israelis.
A recent report by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITTC) in Israel says Hamas has more than 20,000 armed fighters organized in semi-military formations under improved command and control. Many of these fighters are being sent for training to Iran and Syria.
Such threats have prompted the United States to emphasize its strong support for Israel and to condemn Hamas' actions.
On May 15, in his historic speech to the Knesset, President Bush said America believes that "nations have a right to defend themselves and that no nation should ever be forced to negotiate with killers pledged to its destruction."
In March, the House resoundingly passed a resolution by a vote of 404-1 that expresses support for Israel's right to self-defense, noting that the "near-daily rocket fire has been targeted primarily and intentionally at civilian communities in Israel, such as Sderot and Ashkelon, making life in such areas agonizing." .NER.
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