Barrel Filled With Explosives Found on Beach

A barrel filled with explosives was discovered on the Palmahim beach in the Rishon Letzion area during the afternoon hours of 3 February 2010, prompting authorities to shut down the area. Sappers were deployed and neutralised the device, which is the third of its kind discovered on Israeli beaches since 1 February. Barrel bombs were discovered on beaches in Ashdod and Ashkelon, but the device discovered on 3 February traveled farther north, as Rishon Letzion is located approximately 38 mi/58 km from the Gaza Strip. Authorities had been on a heightened state of alert and had increased air and sea patrols due to concerns that militants based in the Gaza Strip would attempt to float more bombs toward Israeli ships or other Israeli targets.