How have Israeli citizens been endangered since the withdrawal from Gaza?
Since Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005, Palestinian terrorist organizations based there have increased their rocket attacks on Israeli communities in the Western Negev. In addition, the terrorists have stepped up their arms smuggling operations via tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip, bringing in tens of tons of high explosives. This wholesale smuggling has only intensified since Hamas’ violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Between Israel’s disengagement from Gaza August 2005 and the Annapolis Conference in November 2007, over 1,800 Kassam artillery rockets have hit Israel from the Gaza Strip. These rockets include improved, long-range weapons which can reach the Israeli port city of Ashkelon, more than 13 km. (8 miles) from the Gaza border. The firing of these deadly missiles grew more prevalent since the Hamas June 2007 takeover of Gaza, when from that time until Annapolis, more than 300 Kassams and nearly 500 mortar bombs were launched. Followi
