Foreign Minister: Hamas Is Waiting In The Wings

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman says: Hamas is currently strong enough to wrest control over Judea and Samaria from Fatah – but is waiting until Fatah receives as much as it can, in terms of area (square kilometers), recognition, and aid, from the international community.
Lieberman briefed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today on Israel’s diplomatic situation around the world. Regarding the Fatah-Hamas rivalry, he said:

“Foreign Ministry assessments are that Hamas is stronger than Fatah not only in Gaza, but also in Judea and Samaria [Yesha]. However, Hamas is being smart and does not want to capture Yesha right now - because it is waiting for the ‘day after,’ when Abu Mazen [PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas] and [PA prime minister Salam] Fayyad get the maximum they can from the international community – and then Hamas will take over.”

Hamas took control of Gaza from Fatah in 2007, following a short but bloody war in which 170 Arabs were killed. Both groups killed opponents by throwing them from building tops. Since then, sporadic clashes have erupted between the groups as well, though these are also dotted by periodic reports of attempts to make peace.

Lieberman explained why the the Palestinian Authority does not want to negotiate with Israel: “They figure they can get more in the international arena than they can by talking with Israel.”


MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) responded afterwards: “I agree that if Israel leaves Judea and Samaria, the dominant force will be Hamas. Only those who are either blind or ostriches continue to try to convince themselves that the ‘moderates’ will rule whatever entity the Palestinians receive. We must head off a unilateral PA declaration of statehood by quickly annexing all the areas in which Jews live in Judea and Samaria.”


(IsraelNationalNews.com)