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A Qassam launching site in northern Gaza Strip (IDF Spokesman's Office)
Last update - 16:57 28/03/2008
Hamas gets Iranian plans for improved Qassams
By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Qassam Rockets, Ashkelon 

Hamas militants who recently returned to the Gaza Strip after training in Iran have a detailed plan for upgrading the capabilities of the rockets being developed in the Strip, according to senior Palestinian Authority sources.

A senior Palestinian source told Haaretz this week that members of Hamas' military wing smuggled blueprints and other detailed technical instructions into the Strip that will enable the group to develop rockets capable of striking at longer distances.

The PA source was unable to estimate the actual distance that these upgrades will allow the Qassam rockets to cover, but said that the aim is to strike at communities north of Ashkelon, which is approximately 15 kilometers north of the northern border of the Strip.
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Israeli security sources said recently that Islamic Jihad militants in the Gaza Strip have developed their own upgraded version of the Qassam rocket, with an estimated range of 18 kilometers.

Iran is investing significant efforts in trying to increase the striking distance of the rockets manufactured by Palestinians in Gaza. The militants there have only a limited supply of Grad-type Katyusha rockets, capable of striking targets 20 kilometers away.

And the stockpiles of Katyusha rockets in Gaza, according to the PA source, have dwindled since the fighting three weeks ago, although Iran has smuggled more Katyushas, made by its own military industries, into the Strip by sea, and has also stepped up its efforts to develop more effective rockets locally in the Strip.

The senior Palestinian source said that the technical information for improving the rockets was smuggled into the Strip following January's breach in the Philadelphi Route wall, which separates the Gaza Strip from Sinai and Egypt.

The source added that some 200 Hamas militants who received training in Iran, the Beqa'a Valley in Lebanon, and Syria, returned to the Strip through this breach in the wall.

Hamas and Hezbollah militants are being trained in Iran together, and are learning the same fighting doctrines.

In addition to the experts in rocket development, militants with specialized training in guerrila warfare also snuck back into the Strip. These men received specialized training in the use of anti-tank missiles, laying road-side bombs, and tactics for carrying out defensive
operations against a possible IDF invasion of the Strip.

The PA sources said that it is possible that among those who returned after the breach in the wall to the Strip are members of PFLP-GC.

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      1.   and Olmert is still witing for the massiah 09:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/03/08
      2.   has haaretz told barak the comedian ? 09:24  |  v hardman 28/03/08
      3.   Blueprint for Bloodletting 09:26  |  Zev 28/03/08
      4.   P. A. terrorists in Gaza have been emulating the tactics of... 09:36  |  Jean Van Daem 28/03/08
      5.   Israel in control of the Egypt-Gaza border crossing. 09:40  |  Jean Van Daem 28/03/08
      6.   Negotiations with Hamas will happen sooner or later 09:52  |  Natallie Durson 28/03/08
      7.   EYE FOR AND EYE 10:06  |  Gary 28/03/08
      8.   It`s that phoney staged "Qassam" photograph again 10:29  |  Clickfool 28/03/08
      9.   What a load of old baloney 10:56  |  Clickfool 28/03/08
      10.   some common sense plz 11:02  |  hasman 28/03/08
      11.   natallie DESPERATE for the Law of Probability to take effect 11:18  |  CK Tan 28/03/08
      12.   clickfool - johnboy thinks you are dumb 11:29  |  CK Tan 28/03/08
      13.   It must be very clear: The Hizballah in the north and Hamas in... 11:44  |  Avihu 28/03/08
      14.   Iran hates the sunnis 12:03  |  Marilyn 28/03/08
      15.   Nata lie 12:04  |  Jon 28/03/08
      16.   The positions of the rocket launchers 12:09  |  x-ray 28/03/08
      17.   The rearming of Hamas. The writing on the wall.! 12:18  |  Stephen 28/03/08
      18.   #8 Clickfool - not all directions imaginable 12:27  |  Urani Diot 28/03/08
      19.   Funny - senior palestinian sourse told Haaretz 12:43  |  17 28/03/08
      20.   Clickfool #8 12:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/03/08
      21.   For CK Tan # 9 12:58  |  Clickfool 28/03/08
      22.   # 16 re 17. They are not Internet Orientated. 13:14  |  Stephen 28/03/08
      23.   Use your heads 13:21  |  Raad 28/03/08
      24.   For X-Ray # 16 13:33  |  Clickfool 28/03/08
      25.   SILVER AND GOLDEN DOMES 13:57  |  indrajaya 28/03/08
      26.   ...senior Palestinian sort...!!!! = obvious lies 14:07  |  KA 28/03/08
      27.   We are expected to believe this drivel? 14:43  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08
      28.   ARE YOU DREAMING ???? 14:49  |  victor sondos 28/03/08
      29.   Containment is a failed approach 14:53  |  Tosefta 28/03/08
      30.   Problem with the photograph 14:54  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08
      31.   Kol-hakavod Hamas 14:59  |  Happy 28/03/08
      32.   Since when are you a military expert C. Fool? 15:03  |  Isac 28/03/08
      33.   Olmert,is the Arafat political prostitute of Israel 15:19  |  Hakaik 28/03/08
      34.   Complaints about the photo are absurd 15:26  |  McQueen 28/03/08
      35.   The breach in the wall had nothing to do with people "starving" 15:27  |  McQueen 28/03/08
      36.   Don`t they have internet in Gaza? 15:31  |  Chris 28/03/08
      37.   to Clickfool ,so Qasams are just imagination? 15:33  |  CM 28/03/08
      38.   Yeah right 16:24  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08
      39.   the launchers 16:25  |  Another Photo Expert 28/03/08
      40.   The breach in the wall was planned in Teheran. 16:27  |  Stephen 28/03/08
      41.   Learn to Read Better 16:34  |  Steve 28/03/08
      42.   The cycle of violence 16:34  |  Jerome 28/03/08
      43.   The cycle of violence part 2 16:38  |  Jerome 28/03/08
      44.   For CM # 32 16:42  |  Clickfool 28/03/08
      45.   Chris Linthwaite & clicker 17:14  |  x-ray 28/03/08
      46.   #18 Urani Diot, get real, will ya` 17:22  |  Johnboy 28/03/08
      47.   Present planetary life 17:30  |  allang 28/03/08
      48.   I KNEW WHAT THAT IS 17:41  |  indrajaya 28/03/08
      49.   #45 x-ray 18:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08
      50.   Iran`s not happy Qassams don`t kill more Jews? 18:09  |  Ahmed 28/03/08
      51.   Olmert & Barak sit do nothing but give armour vehicles to Pals 18:21  |  Dish It Out 28/03/08
      52.   hastening the day of iran`s destruction 18:24  |  anup 28/03/08
      53.   israel should annouce the following 18:34  |  vik 28/03/08
      54.   #53 Vik`s proposals 19:02  |  Paul Wood 28/03/08
      55.   # 53 Vik 19:07  |  Nick Ferriman 28/03/08
      56.   # 50 Ahmed...do all their own? 19:08  |  Lynn 28/03/08
      57.   How is this all funded? 19:08  |  MichaelF 28/03/08
      58.   #46 johnboy CONFIRMS johnboy is an IDIOT 19:16  |  CK Tan 28/03/08
      59.   #21 clickfool - I dare you 19:26  |  CK Tan 28/03/08
      60.   thousands of missiles fired from Gaza into Israel 19:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/03/08
      61.   To: Stephen: Maybe the Coming of the Messiah 19:32  |  Dave Levy 28/03/08
      62.   Iran is the head of the snake 19:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/03/08
      63.   #54 I Thought Jews Were Smart 19:46  |  Paul Wood 28/03/08
      64.   # 57, MICHAELF 19:55  |  indrajaya 28/03/08
      65.   More weapons.... 20:01  |  Joseph Levy 28/03/08
      66.   50km no mans land is the solution 20:02  |  CM 28/03/08
      67.   Clickfool is no dope 20:03  |  No Dope 28/03/08
      68.   #61. Dave Levy. Burbank. Cal. Intriguing..! 20:05  |  Stephen. 28/03/08
      69.   #56 Ferriman To Call Palestinians Nazis? 20:06  |  JP 28/03/08
      70.   #63 What have you said thats anti semitic? 20:09  |  ChanahS 28/03/08
      71.   CiporaJuliana kohn `head of the snake` 20:10  |  raul gilberto 28/03/08
      72.   CK Tan #58 hissy fit! 20:14  |  Roo 28/03/08
      73.   Question to Clickfool, Dursten & cohorts. 20:18  |  No Dope 28/03/08
      74.   #63 Is not me 20:19  |  Paul Wood 28/03/08
      75.   # 18 Urani Diot...What an odd Picture.. 20:21  |  I 28/03/08
      76.   How Israel should deal with Hamas 20:30  |  Tosefta 28/03/08
      77.   #63 is me, posted #74 to wrong thread 20:37  |  Paul Wood 28/03/08
      78.   They need a better defense against Israeli Tyranny 20:38  |  POP 28/03/08
      79.   hey Paul 20:38  |  vik 28/03/08
      80.   Why not? Israel is armed to the teeth with US high tech 20:40  |  Dutch 28/03/08
      81.   Dutch, The answer is, the occupation isn`t illegal 20:49  |  JP 28/03/08
      82.   Its all in the numbers 20:49  |  Alan the real one 28/03/08
      83.   Re 24 20:53  |  Alan the real one 28/03/08
      84.   what next...? 21:12  |  ravi 28/03/08
      85.   what next...? 21:18  |  ravi 28/03/08
      86.   It seems they already got them 21:40  |  Sarita 28/03/08
      87.   Paul Wood-consequences of your threat 21:50  |  Stephen in New York 28/03/08
      88.   Cipora-Iran will not escape the consequences 21:59  |  Stephen in New York 28/03/08
      89.   Paul Wood 63-thanks for reminding us 22:05  |  Stephen in New York 28/03/08
      90.   #63 Paul Wood 22:12  |  Jim 28/03/08
      91.   For X-Ray # 45 22:20  |  Clickfool 28/03/08
      92.   #8 Clickfool 22:25  |  Jim 28/03/08
      93.   #90 Glad to Have You On Board 22:29  |  Paul Wood 28/03/08
      94.   #9 Clickfool 22:29  |  Jim 28/03/08
      95.   #91 What would you use, Clicky? 22:30  |  Raymond Burr 28/03/08
      96.   #1 Cipora Juliana Kohn On against the foe! 22:39  |  Jim 28/03/08
      97.   2nd try-Ein Briera- Durson confuses her heart?s desire with reali 22:53  |  Stephen in New York 28/03/08
      98.   #89 Stephen of New York 22:54  |  Paul Wood 28/03/08
      99.   #5 Jean Van Daem"s second possibility... 23:13  |  Jim 28/03/08
      100.   #16 x-ray 23:56  |  Jim 28/03/08
      101.   #94 "UN Business" As if.... 00:02  |  JP 29/03/08
      102.   #19 17 from NYC 00:03  |  Jim 29/03/08
      103.   Wood-they`re looking to ID you 00:03  |  Stephen in New York 29/03/08
      104.   #94, stupid wood 00:08  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/03/08
      105.   #43 Jerome 00:29  |  Jim 29/03/08
      106.   #95 Whose the Coward? 00:44  |  JP 29/03/08
      107.   #50 Ahmed Lookout! 00:48  |  Jim 29/03/08
      108.   #53 vik 00:59  |  Jim 29/03/08
      109.   Remember Lepanto Battle! 01:13  |  Marcantonio Bragadin 29/03/08
      110.   Jim, Cedar Park Mobile Estates Called... 01:35  |  Jim Bob 29/03/08
      111.   #98 Paul Wood...A MESSAGE FOR YOU.IMPORTANT! 02:21  |  I 29/03/08
      112.   To All Jim-Murfreesboro,Tn USA..HIS NAME IS JIHAD,NOT JIM 02:32  |  I 29/03/08
      113.   #103 dillusional Stephen in New York 03:00  |  Paul Wood 29/03/08
      114.   #111 hardly likely 03:12  |  Paul Wood 29/03/08
      115.   #102, Jim 03:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/03/08
      116.   Stephen in New York. US watch list. #103 03:23  |  examiner 29/03/08
      117.   #103 Stephen in New York 03:37  |  Paul Wood 29/03/08
      118.   #105 Jim of Murfreesboro,Tn State: USA (NOT)! 04:12  |  I 29/03/08
      119.   # 101 JP re: P.Wood..He No Diplomat so,the UN hardly will be his 04:19  |  I 29/03/08
      120.   rockets deniable, missiles not 04:41  |  mikefromusa 29/03/08
      121.   #46:Johnboy makes silly PR charges, CK Tan on the right side 04:43  |  Doc Holliday 29/03/08
      122.   They are not terrorists 05:07  |  Harold 29/03/08
      123.   Let us talk technology 05:21  |  Mark Lincoln 29/03/08
      124.   Dutch, as you say 05:24  |  No Dope 29/03/08
      125.   #54 I Noticed 05:37  |  1 of 6 million 29/03/08
      126.   If "senior Palestinian Authority sources" say so... 06:06  |  ManintheMiddle 29/03/08
      127.   The next round is gonna be a beaut 06:13  |  Panther Jet 29/03/08
      128.   Wood 111-Adam Gadahn is dead, Buckyboy 09:02  |  Stephen in New York 29/03/08
      129.   #121 Doc Holliday does make me laugh so much... 09:49  |  Johnboy 29/03/08
      130.   #8, Clickfool...it`s the same picture we`ve seen before... 09:56  |  Silvienne 29/03/08
      131.   Panther Jet joins the IDF # 127 11:03  |  Clickfool 29/03/08
      132.   #119 Stephen of New York 11:45  |  Paul Wood 29/03/08
      133.   #128 Stephen of New York 11:51  |  Paul Wood 29/03/08
      134.   Paul Wood 11:54  |  Stephen of Coventry 29/03/08
      135.   #131 The Foolish Sage of the Underbrush come out of hiding 15:11  |  Panther Jet 29/03/08
      136.   Will new Qassams be able to hit Dome on the Rock??? 15:30  |  Boris 29/03/08
      137.   #102 Jim 15:31  |  E 29/03/08
      138.   Clearly NOT a staged photo 16:36  |  Ram 29/03/08
      139.   # 136 BorisWill new Qassams be able to hit Dome on the Rock??? 17:24  |  I 29/03/08
      140.   #134 Stephen of Coventry.Another Fool Making Stupid Assertions.. 17:31  |  I 29/03/08
      141.   For Panther Jet # 135 19:41  |  Clickfool 29/03/08
      142.   #136, BORIS 19:54  |  indrajaya 29/03/08
      143.   #129, jb 21:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/03/08
      144.   Shin Bet was the source 21:31  |  Greg Bacon 29/03/08
      145.   Iranian "road map" 22:21  |  tadchase 29/03/08
      146.   Clickfool 22:56  |  Da Nange 29/03/08
      147.   OLMERT NEEDS TO SHOW SOME COURAGE & SAY GLOVES OFF TIME 00:18  |  Zionist forever 30/03/08
      148.   #129; Johnboy, cannot refute the facts so he calls names 00:37  |  Doc Holliday 30/03/08
      149.   #141 Cowardly Lion 00:50  |  Panther Jet 30/03/08
      150.   Have Kasams reached Kiryat Gat? 00:50  |  sam 30/03/08
      151.   Doc Holliday 00:55  |  Nigel 30/03/08
      152.   #141 Part Two 01:00  |  Panther Jet 30/03/08
      153.   Mr Tossi Fetta-in the USA 01:03  |  GABE1 30/03/08
      154.   POP goes the Weasel @78 01:06  |  GABE1 30/03/08
      155.   #144 Greg Bacon.Get One Thing Straight. Israel Fights Its.. 01:07  |  I 30/03/08
      156.   US beware of all this anti-Iran talk! 01:08  |  American Patriot 30/03/08
      157.   # 141 Certainly a fool among fools 02:25  |  Panther Jet 30/03/08
      158.   Greg Hambone Head, Talk about Agit Prop. 03:13  |  Panther Jet 30/03/08
      159.   To Stephen: Iran Will Use It`s Nukes For Offense 03:23  |  Dave Levy 30/03/08
      160.   Dave 04:18  |  Panther Jet 30/03/08
      161.   Silvienne-from another thread-blood libels 04:19  |  Stephen in New York 30/03/08
      162.   Another move by the Tehran chess-masters 05:11  |  Morris Valentine 30/03/08
      163.   #143 Is that so, Cipora? 05:15  |  Johnboy 30/03/08
      164.   #146, indrajava 05:19  |  Boris 30/03/08
      165.   Panther Jet - so what? 05:20  |  Mark Lincoln 30/03/08
      166.   The REAL Problem 05:24  |  Mark Lincoln 30/03/08
      167.   The essential first thought 05:30  |  Mark Lincoln 30/03/08
      168.   For Cipora # 62 and # 102 05:31  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/03/08
      169.   NOTE THE house in the background of the photo 05:31  |  PETER SM 30/03/08
      170.   "AMERICAN PATRIOT Which part of"Islam will rule the world again" 05:35  |  PETER SM 30/03/08
      171.   JOHBOY CIVILLIAN Sderot has been hit many many times by Qassems 05:52  |  PETER SM 30/03/08
      172.   Chris and Clickfool are obviously pulling straws 06:03  |  William 30/03/08
      173.   #91 - Ol` Clicky 06:06  |  William 30/03/08
      174.   #80 - Dutch, yes, Israel has high technology 06:12  |  William 30/03/08
      175.   #168, Fortuna Benmayor 06:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/03/08
      176.   #163, jb, that is so 06:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/03/08
      177.   Johnboy 06:22  |  Ronit 30/03/08
      178.   Johnboy 06:24  |  WT 30/03/08
      179.   Re Ronit to Johnboy (#174) 07:27  |  Morris Valentine 30/03/08
      180.   Paul Wood and Self Reply: one person, two names 08:19  |  Zev 30/03/08
      181.   #151; Nigel What is really simple? Your reply! 18:00  |  Doc Holliday 30/03/08
      182.   INDRAJAYA #64 iran is the genious regime,they spend money 02:25  |  terrornator 31/03/08
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