Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, one of four contenders in the Kadima Party leadership race, announced on Tuesday that IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is alive. He added that negotiations to obtain his release are indeed ongoing.

Regarding Hamas, the senior minister and former ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) director stated it will take time to dismantle the organization’s terrorist infrastructure, perhaps signaling the future need for IDF forces to enter Gaza.

Dichter’s remarks are in line with all intelligence community assessments, which state Hamas is utilizing the ceasefire period to rehabilitate and improve its military capabilities for a future conflict with Israel, taking advantage of the lack of an IDF presence in Gaza to increase the importation of weapons and ammunition via the vast tunnel network that exists in Gaza. The terror organization is also using the former Jewish communities of Gush Katif as training camps, where they rehearse and drill urban warfare and other military skills.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)