[Ha'aretz] Ze'ev Schiff - For Hamas, it is important to have a cease-fire that does not include laying down arms in the Palestinian territories and for its military strength to continue growing apace. When Hamas gets a bit stronger, it will replicate its efforts in Judea and Samaria. Hamas expects that the international community will roll back the pressure it is currently exerting, and recognize the group without its having to recognize Israel and adopt prior agreements. Meaning that funds will be transferred to Hamas even if it doesn't forfeit its ideology of liquidating Israel. Chances of a prolonged cease-fire are slighter as long as the Philadelphi route remains porous to arms smuggling, and so long as the Egyptians prefer not to initiate any large-scale operations against the Palestinians.
2006-12-08 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive