French intelligence identified about 200 vehicles and thousands of men, mounting a two-pronged offensive - from Douentza in the east and from Lere in thewest, near Mauritania - aimed at seizing the strategic city of Mopti, gatewaytothe Malian south.
If he is right, that could mean an Israeli strip of land, 20-30km in width, running west of the Jordan river, the Palestinians' main gatewaytothe Arab world.