The "key threat" currently looming over Israel on the Palestinian front is the formation of an “alternative Hamas authority” at the expense of the Palestinian authority, an Israeli military intelligence official told Yediot Aharonot website Tuesday.
“In recent weeks we have seen that Abu Mazen (President Mahmoud Abbas)’s way is not working,” he said.
Despite the Palestinian president's attempt to force the Hamas to renounce its armed struggle through dialogue, it appears the most likely possibility is that Abbas’ efforts would fail, the official explained.
According to Israeli military intelligence, the clearest expression of current developments in the Gaza Strip was symbolized by last week’s events in Rafah, where Hamas activists attacked Israeli targets after a Palestinian Authority court invalidated recent local election results.
“The Hamas, which was disappointed by the political process in Rafah, opened fire at us,” the intelligence officer said. “The group made the connection, which isn’t new, between the political process and Abu Mazen’s soft underbelly, which is the calm (in violence.)”
“The Hamas is a significant threat that keeps on growing,” the official said.
Furthermore, Israeli intelligence analysts are also concerned the upcoming Gaza Strip and northern West Bank so-called "withdrawal" would be followed by an Israeli-Palestinian crisis over unfulfilled expectations, prompting the Hamas to exploit the situation for its benefit.
"These days, the Hamas continues to strengthen militarily and top members of the group have a fantasy of maintaining a reservoir of thousands of people and establishing a semi-military organization,” the Israeli army official said.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
