(Maariv-Hebrew) Eliel Shahar - Even after Arafat disappears from the scene, it will still not be possible to conduct negotiations with the Palestinian leadership and it is very likely that Hamas will take power - say former leaders of the Israeli intelligence community in a report prepared for next week's conference of the Institute of Policy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya. The report's authors include Dr. Shmuel Bar, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, and others. The report says that expelling Arafat would only strengthen his influence, while if he leaves the stage due to natural causes, Fatah and the PA would be weakened. While the younger leadership of Fatah has grown in strength at the expense of the "Old Guard," their influence is largely confined to specific localities. If no decisive leadership takes Arafat's place, Hamas is likely to become the sole political force that will enjoy public support.
2003-12-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive