Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon believes that there may be a connection between the recent increase in the number of Palestinian attacks in the Gaza Strip and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan
Talking with journalists during a visit to the Erez crossing yesterday Yaalon said that the connection between the increase in attacks and the talk about a withdrawal cannot be dismissed from the realm of possibilities
Yaalon toured the area where Palestinian militants attempted to carry out a triple attack on Saturday
Two Palestinian police officers and four militants were killed in the attack
Following the attack attempt, the Erez industrial area was closed yesterday
Yaalon praised the performance of the soldiers that shot the militants and said that there is a need to reconsider the security arrangements at the Erez crossing
He noted that nevertheless Israel intends to reopen the area to Palestinian labor and traffic
