SHIN BET CHIEF SAYS HAMAS PLANNING MASS TERROR ATTACKS
ISRAEL LINE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1998

  Chief of the General Security Service, Ami Ayalon, appearing before the
Knesset Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense on Tuesday, issued a stiff
warning about the possibility of renewed terror attacks in Israel, HA'ARETZ
reported.  
  Ayalon stated, "All terrorist organizations, and especially Hamas, plan to
carry out large-scale terrorist attacks unprecedented in their scope." Hamas
is planning attacks in crowded populated areas, using quantities of
explosives far greater than have been employed in the past, he said.  
  The security chief told the lawmakers that the recent months of relative
quiet were the result of successful prevention efforts by the security
services, which have stymied approximately 100 attacks.
  Despite these successes, terrorist activity significantly increased during
1997.  Ayalon reported 464 terrorist attacks against Israeli targets,
compared to 268 in 1996.