(AP-Washington Post) Mohammed Daraghmeh - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday accused Hamas of smuggling large amounts of weapons into the West Bank as part of the militant group's efforts to undermine his administration. Israel fears Hamas could also stage a violent takeover in the West Bank, and those security concerns are likely to be a key issue in the new round of peace talks. Despite Abbas' allegations, Hamas appears to be significantly weakened in the West Bank after a lengthy crackdown. Israeli defense officials said they were unaware of any significant arms stockpiling by Hamas in the West Bank.
2010-05-07 08:15:03Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive