Today, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) provided an analysis describing “how characteristics of the recent escalation is a clear proof that Iran and the terrorist organizations took advantage of periods of calm” to build arsenals capable of reaching most of Israel.
JCPA senior analyst and retired IDF Lt. Col. Michael Segall writes:
When Pillar of Defense ended, Iran used the window of opportunity to keep supplying the Palestinian terror organizations. The capture of the weapons ship Klos-C with its Syrian-made M-302 missiles was only the tip of the iceberg of Iran’s involvement in supplying these organizations in Gaza – particularly PIJ, which is considered an Iranian client and depends on it for its continued activity. At the start of Operation Protective Edge it was clear that the Gazan terrorist organizations had received missiles that could reach the Haifa region from the Gaza Strip. Hamas’ launch of M-302 at Hadera (July 8) is the longest-range rocket strike by the Gaza-based terrorist organization on an Israeli city to date. …
The rocket fire at major cities in Israel emphasizes Iran’s vital role in supplying of missiles; training; and providing missile manufacturing technology to the terrorist organizations. Iran also plays a negative role in any attempt to reach regional diplomatic peace agreements.
Israel has long asserted that Iran is arming Gaza terrorists with advanced weaponry that is then used to target Israeli civilians. In March, the Israel Navy commandeered the Klos C vessel, containing a large number of Iranian-shipped rockets, including Syrian-made M-302 missiles, which are the type Hamas uses to target Tel Aviv and points north in Israel. Iran is thus behind the terror being inflicted on Israeli civilians.
In reference to the seizure, Reuters reported on June 27 that “A U.N. expert panel has concluded that a shipment of rockets and other weapons that was seized by Israel came from Iran and represents a violation of the U.N. arms embargo on Tehran.”
Iranian officials had previously admitted supplying the technologies behind the construction of Fajr-5 missiles but denied any direct arms supplies.
“The Fajr-5 missiles have not been shipped from Iran. Its technology has been transferred, and [the missiles are] being produced quickly,” Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, was quoted as saying by Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency.
With Israel’s earlier assertions of Iranian violations on weapons exports now being confirmed by the UN, exposing Iranian lies, serious concerns regarding Iranian trustworthiness hover above the ongoing nuclear negotiations that so far have proved fruitless.
[Photo: Israel Defense Forces / Flickr ]