NEW YORK – Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz yesterday condemned the Palestinian military intelligence agency of Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority (PA) for smuggling Stella shoulder fired missiles into Gaza. Mofaz stated they pose a threat to Israeli aircraft and that this action “crosses a red line.” Mofaz added “there’s a big gap between Abbas’ intentions and what we see in the field. The PA continues to act as before…since Israel gave up Jericho and Tulkarm two weeks ago, we do not see the PA dealing with the terrorists as we agreed…another 10-12 more moved into Tulkarm to seek immunity…there is no change in the PA security groups fighting against terrorism.”

ZOA President Morton A. Klein said, “Mahmoud Abbas’ PA is the same as Arafat’s PA. He doesn’t dismantle, disarm, or arrest terrorists. He coddles them and protects them. He has hired 350 terrorists to become PA policemen, so that they can keep their weapons. To add to this shocking state of affairs, he is now using PA forces to smuggle even more dangerous missiles into Gaza that threaten Israeli aircraft and Israeli helicopters used for intelligence purposes.

“We at ZOA are urging the Bush Administration and the U.S. Congress to stop all aid to the PA and end all negotiations with the PA until they stop these outrageous pro-terrorist actions. Since 1994, the US has given over $1 billion in US aid to the PA. Despite this largess, the PA has violated all of its Oslo and Road Map obligations and taken virtually no anti-terrorist actions. President Bush must stop funding Abbas’ terrorist regime. Eleven years of ignoring hatred and murder against Israel and America is enough.”