Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., July 03, 2008 Sivan 30, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:07 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 05:16 02/07/2008 Vilnai: Arms smuggling continues, despite Egypt By Yuval Azoulay Tags: Matan Vilnai, Israel  Deputy defense minister Matan Vilnai on Tuesday accused Egypt of not doing enough to halt weapons smuggling from Sinai to the Gaza Strip. According to Vilnai, the flow of weapons via the Philadephi route into the Gaza Strip is ongoing, despite the truce that Egypt mediated between Israel and Hamas. Speaking during a visit to the ground forces training center in Tze'elim in the Negev, Vilnai said he had the impression that Egypt was making more effort than it had in the past to stabilize the situation along its border with the Strip, however he said the effort was "not really successful." Advertisement Vilnai said this was a major problem as far as Israel was concerned, but "it cannot be said that we didn't know about it ahead of time." In a conversation with reservists training to fight in built-up areas in the West Bank or Gaza, Vilnai also said: "The Second Lebanon War was not the last war." He added that no one knew how long the truce would last, but "if the next war breaks out, at least we'll know that we tried everything." Vilnai also said that the truce had made it possible to renew negotiations with Hamas for the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Meanwhile, the crossings between Israel and Gaza, which opened at the beginning of the week to allow merchandise into the strip, were closed again yesterday after Israel was fired on from Gaza Monday night. "It was agreed with the Palestinians that if there was no fire the crossings would remain open. As long as firing persists, we close them," Vilnai told the reservists. The decision to close the crossings was made despite uncertainty whether a mortar or rocket had been fired, and inability to locate the landing spot. A dusty reserve soldier listening to Vilnai with his comrades, exhausted from Tze'elim's extreme heat, questioned Vilnai about their training: "We are being told all the time that Iran is an existential threat to Israel, and they're teaching us here how to search buildings." Vilnai, who had been apprised earlier of media reports on a source in the Pentagon who said that Israel might attack Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of President George W. Bush's term, responded: "There's the axis of evil that begins in Beirut and continues to Damascus and Teheran. If there is a confrontation with Iran, other fronts could ignite." Vinai declined to respond directly to the statements by the Pentagon source. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terror in the capital A Palestinian rammed his bulldozer into a bus in Jerusalem, killing three. Poetic injustice Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish blends sarcasm and hope in his latest work.   1.   History is so unkind! 07:03  |  Natallie Durson 02/07/08   2.   Should we trust Egypt ? 08:21  |  Jean Van Daem 02/07/08   3.   "DESPITE EGYPTS EFFORTS"....... 09:56  |  Robert 02/07/08   4.   Egypt is a dictatorship 11:40  |  Rick & TC 02/07/08   5.   THIS WAS A NO BRAINER TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE INK WAS DRY ON SINAI 20:04  |  glenna 03/07/08

Read & React Shot and bleeding, Jerusalem terrorist kept going to kill baby's mother Responses: 143 ANALYSIS / Terrorist or petty criminal run amok? Responses: 125 Ari Shavit: Strike on Iran is good for Israel and U.S. in long run Responses: 79 Reuven Rivlin: Talkbackers, not security services, are setting Israeli policy Responses: 31 Obama enlists Jewish lawmakers in outreach effort Responses: 53 Rosner's Domain Back to Vietnam Poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? Why did the US go to war in Iraq? (WTR) Young adult Jews prefer to marry Jews The rules have changed! Klein still alive! (WTR) More Headlines 19:40 Source: Hezbollah swap to take place next week 19:13 Qassam hits Negev, sixth since start of Gaza truce 19:44 Olmert: Raze terrorist's home, revoke family's social benefits 12:18 How many missiles will be fired from Iran, Syria, Lebanon in the next war? 17:32 U.S. envoy: We won't intervene in Israel-Syria talks 15:59 Jerusalem terrorist's family told to take down mourners' tent 19:19 Israeli rabbi to attend Saudi-sponsored interfaith meet 12:59 Obama enlists Jewish lawmakers in outreach effort 13:50 Barak okays construction of dormitory at Hebron seminary 19:09 Hitler wax figure unveiled in Berlin amid criticism 13:07 Iran: Israel holding diplomats who vanished in Lebanon in 1982 19:00 Haredim riot across Israel in protest of slain rebbetzin's autopsy 14:41 Study: Israelis like to smoke marijuana, less keen on coke 17:22 Man who killed IDF soldier outside Haifa nightclub gets life in prison Previous Editions Select Day 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved