Report: Hamas gears up for West Bank takeover

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:10 pm

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2008/me_hamas0264_06_23.asp

Hamas plans to use the current ceasefire with Israel to take over the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, a report said. The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs said in a report that Hamas would use the temporary ceasefire to bolster its presence in the West Bank. The report, authored by Jonathan Dahoah Halevi, asserted that Hamas wants to capture the position of chairman of the Palestinian Authority, now held by Mahmoud Abbas.

"An important objective for Hamas is winning the Palestinian presidential election, which will be held when Mahmoud Abbas finishes his term of office in December," the report, titled "The Hamas Interest in the Tahdiya with Israel," said. "The lull will permit Hamas to prepare the field to take over from Abbas." [On Sunday, Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Hamas plans to exploit the lull to smuggle weapons and shatter the embargo on the Islamic regime. Yadlin said Hamas would not impose the ceasefire on Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip.] The report said Hamas could argue that according to Palestinian law, administrative authority should be relayed to the chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Hamas has an overwhelming majority in the PLC, also chaired by a Hamas member. Abbas's term ends on Dec. 5, 2008. In contrast to the Israeli government's assertion, the report said Hamas did not agree to a temporary lull, or tahdiya, out of distress. Halevi said despite heavy Israeli attacks, the Hamas regime maintained law and order in the Gaza Strip, suppressed the opposition, and won broad support for its policies. "For Hamas, the lull in the fighting will permit the movement to prepare the field to take over from Abbas, thereby complementing its military takeover of Gaza," the report said. "Hamas's challenge is also the motivation behind Abbas's desire to talk to Hamas about reaching an understanding about new elections, and it explains why Hamas has rejected the suggestion."

The report said the six-month ceasefire would also enable Hamas to expand its military buildup. Hamas was said to be seeking longer-range missiles to match the deterrence of the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah in Lebanon. "Israel has acknowledged Hamas, albeit unwillingly, as the de facto ruling power in Gaza," the report said. "Israel's acceptance of the ceasefire is a blow to the international war on terror and gives immunity to Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza, including Al Qaida affiliates."