According to Chief of Military Intelligence Major-General Amos Yadlin, within two years, Hamas will develop rockets capable of traveling 40 kilometers (24 miles), placing many southern cities in target range, even Beersheva, the capital of the Negev. Other areas that will be within rocket range include Kiryat Gat and Ashdod.

Yadlin stated any community within the 40km range of Gaza will be in attack range, and this is not too far off into the future, the daily Haaretz reports following an interview with the senior officer.

Yadlin added that Hamas in Gaza already has 100s of rockets capable of traveling 20 kilometers, like the one used in Wednesday’s attack, stressing if the problem is not addressed, Hamas will continue striking deeper into Israel.

Since July 2006, Ashkelon has been hit with 22 Grad type Katyusha rockets in addition to 13 Kassam rockets.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)