IDF to deploy super-armored tanks along Gaza border
Decision comes amid concerns over Palestinians' growing arsenal of anti-tank missiles in the Gaza Strip.
By Amos Harel Tags: IDF GazaThe Israel Defense Forces decided on Sunday that it will begin deploying tanks equipped with an active armor protection system known as Windbreaker to the border area along the Gaza Strip.
The deployment will begin next month following intelligence assessments that the threat of anti-tank missile attacks in the area is on the rise.
 |
An IDF tank |
| Photo by: Emil Salman |
Two weeks ago an IDF tank was hit in the northern portion of the border with the Gaza Strip by an anti-tank missile. The tank was damaged but the crew was not injured.
Security sources had said at the time that there are strong indications that the Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have upgraded their anti-tank missile capabilities.
Discussions were held with the Southern Command, the General Staff operations department and the Ground Forces Command about making changes to IDF forces in the area.
Originally a battalion from the 401st Brigade was to have deployed its armored units in the area. However, a different battalion from the same brigade, the 9th, will now be deployed with its Windbreaker-equipped tanks.
The Rafael produced system, which is marketed abroad as Trophy, is capable of neutralizing advanced anti-tank missiles at different ranges. Following the Second Lebanon War, the IDF decided to procure the system because of the many incidents in which anti-tank missiles fired by Hezbollah guerrillas managed to damage IDF tanks.
Four years after the war, only a single battalion has been equipped with the system - the 9th. The battalion is also equipped with the most modern type of Merkava battle tank, the Mark IV. At the current rate of procurement it will be several years before significant numbers of battalions are equipped with the system.
A number of Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip hold hundreds of anti-tank missiles, of different types and sophistication - from the relatively simply RPG to advanced anti-tank missiles.
The IDF may be forced to react to Gazans' upgrading of anti-tank missiles by changing tactics along the border and limiting exposure of tanks.
The main focus of IDF ground activity in the Gaza Strip is the buffer zone of several hundred meters inside the Strip from the fence along the border. During the past two years Gazans have avoided engaging IDF forces entering the area - operations mainly aiming to identify mines laid by militants.
However, there have also been cases of sniper fire, anti-tank missile fire and the detonation of improvised explosive devices against the IDF patrols. Even though there have been low key altercations, there is concern that a Palestinian strike against an Israeli armored vehicle will spark a greater conflagration which will expand and end with massive rocket fire against civilian communities in Israel.
Two rockets fired from the northern Gaza Strip hit southern Ashkelon last night. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
It is believed that the rocket fire came in response to an air strike on Saturday night against a cell of militants preparing to launch rockets into Israel.
Five Palestinians were killed in the attack, members of the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance groups.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
Wow long overdue it is.This should have been applied long ago,as the Gazan weaponry has been getting more sophisticated by the day. I am glad to read of this latest,inspite of the bashers who think it is a ploy and shouldn't be. But then this comes from the Israeli bashers who think Israel should sit back while the population gets attacked daily with these weapons? Bull to that.
As the weapons fron Gaza have become more sophisticated time is now overdue to deploy the super-armored tanks along Gaza border. And they had better do it as soon as possible.
Israel has long been divided over two approaches to ensuring Israel's security. One tries to treat Arabs decently, isolate the rabid Israel-haters (there will always be some: just read these talkbacks for rabid Arab-haters), and create a society where ordinary Arabs don't get humiliated, where they have something to lose by fighting. The other tries to kill as many Arabs as possible, thereby ensuring the survivors really hate Israel, and then invest in overwhelming military might to face down an organised rabble. Since 1980 Israel has abandoned the first approach, and look how much more secure she is now.
a country that has been built and established through war will continue to live a "state of war"! Previously, Mr. Peres was complaining that there is no country in history that has been "attacked" in six wars except Israel. Well, your home has been built over someone's else home so you should expect some kind of reaction. In fact, we don't need peace, we need to end this state of war instead. Every Israeli leader was always expressing concerns about security and that is TRUE. Israel should always be altered about its security i.e. like what we read now in this article and the super Israeli tanks, simply because it is in a state of war since 60 years. END this state and peace is a natural result. P.S. I am not saying Israel is "a state of war", it is IN "a state of war"
Another fre HI Tech killing toy to kill innocent people
BIGGER tanks. Yes, that will end the Occupation! BIGGER, BETTER, ARMOURED tanks, with toilets, showers and espresso machines. What's Hebrew for 'We Surrender!' ?
are deploying on the border with Gaza. Seems the Gazans are being used to tie down vital Israeli military assets in the south whilst Israel's enemies in the north get ready to rumble.
Yes but think of all the suffering children, what a pity what a pity all this money wasted on tanks and missles when we need to feed the world.."lets all sing together.."We are the world, we are the children la la la de la a brighter day for you and me " But especially for me....for you a brighter day only if you behave..OH BEHAVE..naughty naughty Middle Eastern people..
So they have to be pushed back .
deploy whatever u want ... it is useless... u won't be able to destroy the will of the Palestinians
The tanks are there to shoot people who try and cross the border or attack troops. Your elevated words are meaningless. every nation in the world has the right to defend its own borders.
What borders ? are israelis able to define their borders now ? that's a surprise. Using tanks, F16 against a population that has nothing. Is this called bravery or cowardness ? pathetic.
to pick up some more organs for trafficking.
The UN, like the League of Nations it replaced, has no business imposing its will on the sovereignty of any nation. Israel, is it not long past the time to pack up and leave? The UN ignores the plight of so many in so many nations and only has time to pick up where Hitler left off. 400 native Indian reserves in the USA, Tibet under the yoke of China, women supressed in Arab states, Ireland under the fist of England and so on. Time to go before we supply the rope to our own hanging. Nothing to debate, nothing to feel sorry about. We Jews are still singled out as a slave people, with no human value and have no right to defend ourselves. The world is sickened by the sight of a Jew with a gun. Time to go! And we will not be alone!
Israel is a legitimate state today only because it was recognized by the UN as a member State. if Israel leaves the UN, it will no longer be recognized by other states in the world.
Expect a war on a small scale in Gaza soon, it might escalate to something big but its doubtful, the IDF is going to Test its Trophy System see how it works cover all holes and then the big war is coming with lebanon again, this is where the big boys slug it out.
More spin doctoring.... let the world beleive that the the poor isralies are under attack from Gaza ... just an excuse to halt peace talks and attack Gaza again .The picture is all too familiar!
How convenient !
Be Honest with yourself ..... Israel needs a reason to attack Gaza again... to justify the need to defend themselves ! Israel cannot handel that the Arab states are uniting behind Palestianins that some countries have accpeted Palestine as an independent state ... and more will follow! They will retaliate ... The only way they know how ! More bulling tactics - thats all this is!!!!!!!!!!
Israel promotes peace, human values, and understanding. Only by dialogue conflicts can be solved. Its a pity that Palestinians keep on threatening Israelis. We have no choice but to try to defend our children who are still now being massively bombed by Hamas. We do our best to protect ourselves, while keeping an open hand for peace and friendship. Hoping that Israelis humanitarian values may be an example for other nations.
this is a joke,isnt it ? funniest thing i've read this month.
The building of settlements is a VERY clear indication that Israel has no interest in peace. In the same way that putting a full blockade against more than a million civilians is a total war crime. Don't tell me you were afraid the people of Gaza would throw potato chips at you !
It is the Arabs that insisted that the borders not be recognised. Where do you get the "legality" or otherwise of the 67 borders?
Israelis settlers must go home to israel, they have no business being in the Palestinian territory (West Bank, East Jerusalem, gaza).
we heard this 9 yrs ago. and we have seen how they were turned to pieces!
Israel has a people and city to use as its own personal test bed for new weapons. When will Israel be stopped? Its not 1967 anymore.
New York has become another Islamic State. Just kidding, we'll just laugh at you and then go on about our business.
When will Hamas free Gaza? When will it stop launching mortar shells like yesterday evening?. When will you stop supporting terror? Where would you like to live: Israel or Hamastan?.
So stop whinning and do something about it. PS in 1967 Arabs also announced they were going to destroy Israel.Hamas continues with the tradition. So whats your problem other than pathological hatred of Israel?
obviously common sense is not one of your stronger points.
Ending the occupation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem would send a strong message to Palestinians in Gaza.
will just prolong the status quo.
Under International Law, the borders of Israel with Palestine are those of 1967. It is childish of the Israeli government to say it want to negotiate on its borders, it's as if the USA told Mexico rthat want to renegotiate their borders1
Could you please post the exact law which states this?? I haven't been able to find it anywhere! Besides, the "borders" you speak of are not and neber were "borders". What you refer to are nothing more than "cease fire lines" or "armistice lines". Per the Oslo Accords, the Plestininans and Israel agreed that the permanent borders would be determined through direct negotiations. So, there is no "renegotiation" involved.
occupation are terrorist?
Israelis got an army to face them all. Whats your problem? Which ionternational law prevents returning to areas ethnically clkeansed iof Jews by Arabs,where there are no borders at Arab insistence
5,000 years and counting! When we're all in our graves Gaza will still be there.
Showed sixteen occupants of Gaza and Ten of them were Jewish.
And I hope Gaza lasts another 5000 years, as long as they are a peace loving nation! Otherwise I hope their leaders don't last 5 minutes!
tell us about the 1914 census, when Jews in Palestine made 7.6% and that's not 76% that's 7 point 6 percent . [ strange the ottomans also called this place Palestine no, anyways]
Because it has been there and Jewish for over 4.500 years.Note:Shimshon....
For the price of one of those super-armored tanks you could buy a 10 super (top of the line) fire trucks or 20 an average like this one. http://newfiretrucks.com/images/use_aerial_fire_truck.jpg
Yes...but will you be as free to use it as you wish? I suspect not. Israel should not allow arms in the Gaza,West Bank are and should purge the possibility of them on going. A law criminalizing possession should be strictly enforced. what reason do the PA have them other than to use against Israel? (So the PA can have them in Israel to use against Israel. HUH?) Is such approach so unrealistic?
You would like them to be defenseless cheap labour force working for you at day time living in ghettos at night but it doesn't work this way anymore, people got pride you know ,...
are of utmost importance, and Israel will be forced to buy them. At the same time, unfortunately, Israel has many enemies and super tanks are necessary too. Every country, especially in time of peace, would happily cut its military budget, but is Israel in this desirable and happy condition?
That's right but did you ever ask yourself why ?
Do you really think that us Israelis want these people to come work for us as a cheap workforce?? Not on yr life, buddy! We want them to leave us alone & get on with their own lives! Seriously, I hv enough foreigners looking to come work here & they like us! So, no thank you, Split! I'm not interested in that idea at all!
And cut back goods let in and exports letout to pre-flotilla levels - since more violence was the Gazastan repayment for Israel's gesture.This time tell Ashton and Clinton to take a flying leap unless the EU is also going to compensate Israel billions for rocket damage and the cost of fortifying schools and homes. More food shipped to Nazi Germany wouldn't have shortened WW2 - napalming Dresden is what did it. There was a militiary solution to the Tamil Tigers, US and NATO are pursuing a military solution to the Taliban, and there is a military solution to Hamastan, too. There can't be peace or a PA state until this is done - Israel won't allow "Land for Rockets" as the final settlement, so get use to it.
...though not un-expected
This has already been done and is being done, while Israel profits on the sale of fuel for the semi working on scrapmetal energyplant.
where else and who else would be stupid enough not to cut off water fuel electricity food supplies to an enemy! its not collective punishment its total war ! israels problem come from its continually pussyfooting when attacked !
it's nothing more than a local skirmish for heavens sake.
Hezbollah to deploy super-armored anti-tank rockets. France to provide super-armored anti-tank rockets. IDF to deploy super-super-super-armored tanks. Hezbollah to deploy super-super-super-armored anti-tank rockets. France to provide super-super-super-armored anti-tank rockets. Anyway, you get the idea.
Seems as though the Super-Armored-anti-tank rockets-- has replaced the human brain... and the ability to reason... ! how did we ever survive without it !
If the IAF would only bomb each and every gathering of Hamas members or/and their supporters the need to go in would be much less. Killing everyone that owns a green flag should be the battle order for the next Gaza war.
the next war Israel should anex again Gaza this is the only answer to the lack of proper goverment in that region, or how about to push Abbas and friends there, yes push them and lets see how those brothers behave, then te winner to sit down with Israel and make peace and two countries.
So if the Israelis dont invade they dont need to worry
At least three Palestinians have been killed and five wounded by Israeli tank fire in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Hamas security officials. From Sept 10 One report said that a 91-year-old man and his 33-year-old grandson were among the dead.
Tanks and missiles can be both defensive and offensive .
Thanks for your support of terrorism, murder and genocide. Are you affiliated with a jihadist organization located in the United States? I might remind you that both Hamas and Al Qaeda operate from Gaza. It is quite clear that you support both.
Al Qaeda operated from Gaza ??? if that's not pure propaganda !! you have no clue.
They are the ones who blow your Tanks. Gaza is a refugee camp remember.
yeah, a refuge for terrorists
...complete with machine guns, surface to air missiles, surface to surface missiles, mortars, anti-tank rockets, rocket propelled grenades, and explosives for suicide bombers and IED's. Sounds like those poor refugees want nothing more than to live in peace, doesn't it?
Too bad Israel won't let them
It is logic to deploy tanks with an armor capable of repelling the lastest anti-tank rockets Hamas and Islamic Jihad have smuggled into Gaza since Cast Lead. If it is logical, reasonable and normal to defend IDF personnel this way, why do "military experts" say no to giving Israel's skies an equally safe Iron Dome? Why do Israelis in tanks deserve care, and ordinary citizens don't, in the minds of those "experts"?
Good tactical move because Israel can premptively strike Hamas and the other terrorist groups in Gaza
About the same time, at the Gaza border, we saw that lightly armed militants can defeat a tank crew on duty. Israel invests so much money (some of it mine) on weapons and doesn't bother to get any smarter.
Thank you my dear.
it looks like they all have surprises for each other long range missiles and we gonna have to wait and see what they all got for each other
Wasn't a whole lot left. I guess Durson sees that as a victory -)
Witness the Taliban in Afghanistan against the US - that is the nature of war - however it is necessary to continually upgrade - If you listen to Lebanese politicians who know what is really going on on Lebanon they will tell you that Hezbollah is fearful of another war
You're not very smart are you Natallie?
Jay, do you always say things twice?
I don't know how Ms. Durson feels about Lebonon, but from the Israeli standpoint is sure couldn't be called a victory. Hezbollah emerged even stronger, and the moderate Lebanese premier said "Lebanon will be the last state to make peace with Israel. See, all that destruction in downtown Beirut worked out really well for you.
IsraeI strikes only devastated a few blocks of the Dahiye area of southern Beirut. The retnof what Israel did only managed to turn more Lebamese towards the Hezz and amgry at Israel..
I am amazed that a jihadist like yourself is still below the radar for law enfoprement
Is that any war with hezbollah will not be with only hezbollah but with lebanon and it's makes an israeli victory that much easier cos they don't have to select targets.
Fire 2 or 3 anti-tank missiles from same location at near same time, it stops the first one maybe the 2nd but 3rd likely to hit it. Gaza has no high altitude air defense, while Lebanon has very limited one that is easily jammed or HARM anti-radar missiles can take out but S-300/400 system could make it tricky at first or newer mobile passive system in test now could really make aircraft risky to use, even F-35s.
That One, would still be declaring Victory. Go back to photo shopping pictures of explosions and wailing in front of your fifth home to be destroyed in one week. It is only a matter of time before you are a Refugee from California.