Israeli Defense Minister Warns Of Arms Stockpiling in Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz warned on Tuesday that Hamas was using the cease-fire with Israel as an opportunity to stockpile massive quantities of weapons in the Gaza Strip. Peretz hinted that if diplomacy did not address the problem, the military option remained viable. Israeli army Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, who accompanied Peretz, said armed Palestinian factions were digging and booby-trapping tunnels throughout Gaza.