Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 21, 2008 Adar1 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:45 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Defense Minister Ehud Barak attending the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting in Jerusalem on Monday. (Tomer Neuberg / Jini) Last update - 20:47 27/08/2007 Barak: Hezbollah rocket arsenal bigger now than before the war By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Hezbollah, Knesset, arsenal  Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Hezbollah has more rockets today than it did prior to the Second Lebanon War last summer. According to a source who was present at the meeting, Barak was referring to both long-range and short-range rockets, and said that the rockets are situated north of the Litani River, but within striking range of Israel. Hezbollah fired almost 4,000 rockets at northern Israel during the 34-day war in 2006, and Israeli land and air assaults caused heavy damage to Lebanese towns and neighborhoods. Advertisement The war was sparked by a Hezbollah attack on an Israeli border patrol in which three soldiers were killed and two taken captive. The fate of the captured soldiers remains unknown. More than 1,000 Lebanese and 158 Israelis died in the fighting. In regard to the tense relationship between Israel and Syria, Barak said that he can sense that the tension is beginning to dissipate. An associate of the defense minister explained that it appears that Israel's tireless efforts to calm Syrian fears of an imminent conflict have finally taken effect, and now the Syrians view Israel as less aggressive. Barak told the Knesset panel that he can see "similarities between the young [current Syrian President Bashar] Assad and his father [former Syrian president Hafez] Assad." Barak also told the committee that Israel must not pull out of the West Bank in the near future, given the threat of rocket fire on Israeli cities. "The things we see in Gaza do not allow us to change our actions in (the West Bank),? Barak was quoted by one of the participants as saying, referring to daily rocket fire at Israel from Gaza by Palestinian militants. He said it would take about two and a half years to develop and deploy a defense system to protect Israel's center from potential rocket attacks from the West Bank. Monday's discussion was Barak's first appearance before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee since he was appointed defense minister. Barak outlined before the panel his general outlook on Israel's security, saying it was based on five major principles: operating an active anti-rocket defense system; improving the Israel Defense Forces' ability to maneuver in the realm of defense and protection; extending the IDF's logistical stamina in terms of supplies; increasing the amount of training exercises, including live fire training; tackling the issue of the IDF's ability to operate deep within enemy territory. Barak also discussed the plan to relocate IDF bases to the Negev, and announced that the execution of this plan would cost some NIS 20 billion. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Land of milk and honey Israeli model Bar Refaeli poses for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition. Finding fault Shas MK blames gays for recent earthquakes in the region.   1.   Trying to connect up the dots..... 13:50  |  Esther 27/08/07   2.   A GOOD THING BARAK, BABY 14:02  |  indrajaya 27/08/07   3.   Fake Indrajaya alert #2 14:35  |  Indrajaya 27/08/07   4.   Might Olmerd & Livni be responsible for this fiasco? 14:37  |  Nili 27/08/07   5.   Wow ! I thought the war was a success for Israel 14:51  |  Beni 27/08/07   6.   So Barak, what are you going to do about it? 14:53  |  Zev 27/08/07   7.   Lebanese: YOUR Hizballah will bring YOUR destruction!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15:00  |  Vittorio 27/08/07   8.   You better believe it 15:05  |  Maral 27/08/07   9.   to Nili number 4 15:15  |  chemers dan 27/08/07   10.   # 8 Maral 15:28  |  Lynn 27/08/07   11.   Barak Competancy 15:47  |  Ron 27/08/07   12.   I trust Nasrallh 15:50  |  Shemo 27/08/07   13.   Lynn 15:56  |  Maral 27/08/07   14.   And if they try to pull that crap again... 15:59  |  Nechama 27/08/07   15.   Iranians and Hezbollah 16:20  |  Brod 27/08/07   16.   Hezbollah rocket arsenal bigger now 16:22  |  Elie 27/08/07   17.   # 8 Maral 16:27  |  dovale 27/08/07   18.   Some good news in the article 16:35  |  Mark Lincoln 27/08/07   19.   to maral # 8 "as a deterent,these weapons are great.at least,we 16:42  |  terrornator 27/08/07   20.   So, Maral, now the thugs of the Hizballah will be able 16:51  |  Dani Regev 27/08/07   21.   That`s good news 16:56  |  Stephen Murray 27/08/07   22.   Barak probably right 17:15  |  Chick 27/08/07   23.   Mark Lincoln TAP YOURSELF ON THE SHOULDER 17:18  |  Gil 27/08/07   24.   to maral re: lynn so now your willing to admit hesbullah is part 17:21  |  terrornator 27/08/07   25.   A Roast for Hezbolah 17:22  |  Jim 27/08/07   26.   Destroy the enemy 17:35  |  Justice Seeker 27/08/07   27.   Collect `Em All 17:41  |  Solon 27/08/07   28.   #7 on the contrary 17:44  |  Mark 27/08/07   29.   Mark Lincoln ACCORDING TO RES 1701 17:50  |  Gil 27/08/07   30.   Gil - Still letting the id drive? 17:53  |  Mark Lincoln 27/08/07   31.   So Why is Barak Still In The Government? 17:53  |  Yoram 27/08/07   32.   To Nili # 4 - Olmert and Livni 17:54  |  Dagma 27/08/07   33.   Lynn/Maral 17:56  |  Nadir 27/08/07   34.   More Money for Defence 17:57  |  Joe 27/08/07   35.   if hesbullah attacks israel again,the first nuke should 18:10  |  terrornator 27/08/07   36.   so Maral are you inviting war this time? 18:20  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/08/07   37.   STEPHEN AND INNOCENT CIVILIANS 18:22  |  Brant 27/08/07   38.   Chosen people are scared?? 18:24  |  Fatih 27/08/07   39.   Maral 18:36  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/08/07   40.   To # 7 - Very stupid indeed 18:37  |  Akram - Paris/Beirut 27/08/07   41.   Destroy Their Arsenal Before They Use It 18:42  |  A.K.Tion 27/08/07   42.   Thrive in war, die in peace 18:54  |  Pedro 27/08/07   43.   ISRAEL 18:57  |  DANNY 27/08/07   44.   Mark Lincoln ACCORDING TO RES 1701 19:17  |  Gil 27/08/07   45.   You are wrong, MARAL.Israelis enter Lebanon when they are bullied 19:21  |  Vittorio 27/08/07   46.   Peace 19:40  |  Rey 27/08/07   47.   maral needs to believe it 19:45  |  peter 27/08/07   48.   Pedro #24 19:50  |  Saimon 27/08/07   49.   to Stephen Murray 19:56  |  Sol 27/08/07   50.   But you forgot the big surprise 20:01  |  Imad 27/08/07   51.   #24 Margie in Tel Aviv 20:18  |  Imad 27/08/07   52.   Zev 20:30  |  Imad 27/08/07   53.   A younger, thinner Barak must have been kind of cute when he 20:40  |  Apartheid 27/08/07   54.   Rey 20:43  |  ray 27/08/07   55.   #16 Elie 20:47  |  Imad 27/08/07   56.   Akram 20:48  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/08/07   57.   29 Gil Hizbullah must feel free to interpret UN resolutions any 20:51  |  Apartheid 27/08/07   58.   Akram 21:19  |  Walid 27/08/07   59.   Apartheid 21:25  |  Walid 27/08/07   60.   #35, the apartheid person 21:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/08/07   61.   Not such bad news 21:37  |  Tosefta 27/08/07   62.   What has happened to Barak?! 21:48  |  Esther 27/08/07   63.   The only hope for peace, when the army of 21:54  |  Andreas 27/08/07   64.   bigger now! 22:02  |  Akiva Patysh 27/08/07   65.   Cipora Julianna Kohn 22:03  |  Walid 27/08/07   66.   Free Up Shaba Farms and Keep Your Nose out of Lebanon 22:07  |  Mr. Knowitall 27/08/07   67.   Tosefta 22:13  |  Walid 27/08/07   68.   Cipollata Cone 22:14  |  Rami 27/08/07   69.   it is a relief for israel 22:15  |  peace 27/08/07   70.   Maral, sinora cried like a baby because Nasrallah sucked Lebanon 22:27  |  Steve 27/08/07   71.   # 60 Kohn: misinformed and misinforming (as usual) 22:35  |  Natallie Durson 27/08/07   72.   Passivity will be our downfall (part 1) 22:35  |  Yonatan 27/08/07   73.   Passivity will be our downfall (part 2) 22:37  |  Yonatan 27/08/07   74.   Esther 22:37  |  Walid 27/08/07   75.   Fatih, we are not scared and we are the chosen, thats why we have 22:37  |  Steve 27/08/07   76.   Margie - Did you hear me shouting? 22:38  |  Akram - Paris/Beirut 27/08/07   77.   Passivity will be our downfall (part 3) 22:38  |  Yonatan 27/08/07   78.   Passivity will be our downfall (part 4) 22:40  |  Yonatan 27/08/07   79.   #65, Walid 22:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/08/07   80.   #57 Apartheid - you seem proud of your pen-name 22:49  |  Yonatan 27/08/07   81.   Walid: stop bullying Cipora please 22:49  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/08/07   82.   APARTHEID.Haniyeyeh is not starving.Did he enjoy the throwing of 22:52  |  PETERSM 27/08/07   83.   Yonatan: A timely warning 22:55  |  Bill 27/08/07   84.   Imad 22:56  |  Dear little Margie 27/08/07   85.   Cipora Julianna Kohn 22:59  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/08/07   86.   Akram 23:03  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/08/07   87.   Yonatan Edmund Burke said it in one sentence 23:05  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/08/07   88.   What do You Suggest Elie? 23:08  |  Bernie 27/08/07   89.   Gil, You Can Read the Resolution 23:13  |  Bernie 27/08/07   90.   Akram 23:23  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/08/07   91.   Some illustratiopns of my postings on passivity 23:24  |  Yonatan 27/08/07   92.   Margie in Tel Aviv 23:26  |  Walid 27/08/07   93.   Margie in Tel Aviv 23:34  |  Ossama 27/08/07   94.   Let us not fool ourselves (Walid #67) 23:34  |  Tosefta 27/08/07   95.   #85, Margie in TA 23:37  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/08/07   96.   Here we go again 23:44  |  Yonatan 27/08/07   97.   Akram 23:52  |  Walid 27/08/07   98.   #89 Bernie 00:07  |  peter 28/08/07   99.   What!? Does this mean UNIFIL didn`t work? Quelle surprise! 00:35  |  DJStahl 28/08/07   100.   Yes, I am interested in peace 00:40  |  Akram - Paris/Beirut 28/08/07   101.   #8: Maral: the "allies" are Lebanese too 01:01  |  Paul Freedman 28/08/07   102.   75 Steve. Back then every hilltop tribe thought they were the 01:13  |  Apartheid 28/08/07   103.   Barak - You Have Much to Atone , So Get to It 01:33  |  Tod Zuckerman 28/08/07   104.   BILL.lobby harder,not enough Arab money around? 01:53  |  PETER SM 28/08/07   105.   APARTHEID if your people had not started it all by ignoring UN 02:03  |  PETER SM 28/08/07   106.   Apartheid SO PLEASE INTERPRET RESOLUTION 1701 02:57  |  Gil 28/08/07   107.   Israel Has the Power, But Not the Will 03:11  |  Dave Levy 28/08/07   108.   Mark in Lagos 04:37  |  Nechama 28/08/07   109.   Natallie Durson, Los Angeles 04:42  |  Nechama 28/08/07   110.   APARTHEID.If the Arabs had not ignored the UN from day one 05:28  |  PETERSM 28/08/07   111.   Peter I Think You MisUnderstand ... 05:29  |  Bernie 28/08/07   112.   Sorry Gil, 1701 was Breached Long Ago 05:33  |  Bernie 28/08/07   113.   David Levy, Balfour and the League of Nations 05:37  |  Bernie 28/08/07   114.   One More Thing David 05:39  |  Bernie 28/08/07   115.   Nechama, List the Names of the Dead Lebanese 05:43  |  Bernie 28/08/07   116.   BERNIE I understand the idiscriminate rocketting of Israel 05:49  |  PETER SM 28/08/07   117.   margie in Tel Aviv 06:31  |  Danite 28/08/07   118.   Walid 06:32  |  Danite 28/08/07   119.   #71, Durson 06:57  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/08/07   120.   Bernie 07:26  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 28/08/07   121.   #105, PETER SM, please explain 12:49  |  VIPER 28/08/07   122.   #15-Iranians, Hezb-Brod 14:34  |  Observer 28/08/07   123.   #21 good news 15:57  |  Observer 28/08/07   124.   #33.never fire first 16:04  |  Observer 28/08/07   125.   #35 first nuke... 16:08  |  Observer 28/08/07   126.   #46 Ray in Seattle 16:17  |  Observer 28/08/07   127.   #58 to Walid 16:24  |  Observer 28/08/07   128.   BARAK THE GODFATHER OF HEZBOLLAH 19:28  |  NAD 28/08/07   129.   To # 48 - Saimon 20:25  |  Pedro 28/08/07   130.   Cipora Julianna Kohn 03:50  |  Silvienne 29/08/07   131.   what a shame 22:56  |  Gerry 06/02/08   132.   #115 Bernie and Israeli lies 15:41  |  Murray of Montreal 21/02/08

Today Online Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier Responses: 196 Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas Responses: 147 Shmuel Rosner: What the U.S. really wants is a total Gaza invasion Responses: 24 Israel Harel: Israeli Arabs creating state within Israel's borders Responses: 24 Nadav Shragai: The lies used to justify the division of Jerusalem Responses: 12 Rosner's Domain U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation What America wants from an operation in Gaza The only F-word people should be afraid of is fanaticism Are Palestinians like Kosovars? (WTR) Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? More Headlines 14:36 Report: Barak warns Syria IDF planning Hezbollah op 13:23 Livni: Palestinian people have no future under Hamas rule 15:09 Iranian official: Countdown to Israel's destruction has begun 14:56 Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier 13:28 MK Melchior said to have known of plan to breach Gaza border 12:43 Rejoining the Diaspora - Israeli expatriates, a new kind of Jew 15:19 Israel extends closure of Palestinian offices in E. Jerusalem 10:36 Peace Now: Israel denies Area C Palestinians building permits 14:52 Sderot residents hold protest in downtown Tel Aviv 15:45 Morocco uncovers terror ring planning attacks on local Jews Previous Editions Select Day 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb

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