Report: 2 rockets aimed at J'lem seized in Beit Jala
Palestinian security forces uncover two meter-and-a-half long rockets ready to be launched in the town of Beit Jala, near the capital. Large amount of explosives also found
Palestinian security forces uncovered on Wednesday two rockets ready to be launched in the town of Beit Jala near Jerusalem, the Ma'an news agency reported Wednesday, adding that a large amount of explosives were also discovered.
Palestinian security forces transferred the rockets to the Israel Defense Forces, who reported that the rockets were not Qassams and did not pose any real threat to Jerusalem.
The news agency quoted the commander of the Palestinian security forces in Bethlehem as saying that the rockets seized were a meter-and-a-half long and carried the words "Allah hu akbar".
Palestinian security forces have opened an investigation into the matter, in an attempt to uncover who was behind the rockets.
In the past, IDF forces in Bethlehem killed a member of the Palestinian security forces who helped establish the terrorists' rocket-manufacturing capabilities in the West Bank. A number of rockets and launchers were discovered after his death.
Since the beginning of the intifada, several Palestinian terror groups, mainly the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), have worked toward transferring the infrastructure for the production of rockets to the West Bank.
Two years ago IDF forces based in the Negev apprehended three Gaza residents who had infiltrated Israel through the border with Egypt. During their interrogation the men admitted that they had been sent by the PRC to transfer rocket-manufacturing know-how to the West Bank.
PRC spokesman Abu Abir, who has in the past stated that his organization was making every effort to transfer rocket technology to the West Bank, refused to comment on Wednesday's discovery.
In a talk with Ynet, Abu Abir criticized the Palestinian security forces and said they were constantly working to prevent quality attacks by Palestinian organizations on Israel.
"The Palestinian security forces have become the guards of Israel's security, they are chasing after the fighters and uncovering weapons," Abu Abir said, adding that his organization would continue to operation throughout the West Bank.
West Bank Palestinians, especially from the Jenin and Tulkarm area, have in the past made a number of attempts at firing rockets into Israel. A number of rockets fired at Israel from Jenin landed within the Palestinian territories, and in the Tulkarm area, two rocket duds were discovered.
In one incident, al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Fatah's military wing, claimed activists fired a Qassam rocket the Alei Zahav settlement in the West Bank. The organization claimed that this was the third rocket to be fired by its men in the West Bank. No injuries were reported.
An al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades official confirmed in a talk with Ynet at the time that "a cell of the martyr Nader al Aswad fired the rocket, that has a range of five kilometers'.
