A tunnel apparently used by Palestinians for smuggling arms and explosives into the Gaza Strip was found on the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip near Rafah Friday night, the Israeli army said.
The tunnel, according to Israel Radio, was uncovered by Egyptian soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Israel Army Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon said Friday that while military operations have seriously damaged the "terror infrastructure" in the West Bank, much work remains to be done in the Gaza Strip.
"The terror infrastructure in Yehuda and Shomron (West Bank) has been hit hard," Ya'alon said in a speech delivered in Tel Aviv. "In the Gaza Strip there is still a long way to go."
He called the Palestinian "terror" infrastructure "monstrous," adding that "it is the target of the Israeli forces operating in the Gaza Strip."
During the address, Ya'alon reiterated his opposition to any unilateral Israeli withdrawal from settlements in the territories, including isolated ones. "Today I invest one batallion in (the Gaza Strip settlement of) Netzarim. If we withdraw under fire I will have to invest several batallions in order to undo the damage."
"No decisions can be based solely on economic considerations when it comes to terror," he added.
For his part, Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told representatives of the Quartet that he plans to renew his talks with top Palestinians in the near future, in an attempt to promote reforms of the Palestinian Authority.
Peres last met with Palestinian officials some three weeks ago, before the Israeli army besieged Yasser Arafat's Ramallah headquarters. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
