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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/world/middleeast/13assess.html
Israel Faces Regional Challenge
[New York Times] Steven Erlanger - For Israel the problem is regional, not local - of Hamas, as a part of the regional Muslim Brotherhood, and of Iran, a serious regional power with considerable influence on Syria, Hizballah, Islamic Jihad, and the military wing of Hamas. An Arab intelligence officer working in a country neighboring Israel said it appeared that Iran - through Hizballah - had given support to Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal to stage the seizure of Cpl. Shalit. Israeli intelligence officers also believe Iran is acting through Hizballah and Mashaal. Former Israeli ambassador to Washington Itamar Rabinovich sees Iran "on a roll, looking for regional hegemony." Even without nuclear weapons, Iran is acquiring considerable influence in Lebanon, in Syria, and with the Palestinians, not to speak of Iraq. "It can directly operate Hizballah in southern Lebanon through Syria, and with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the territories it can detonate the situation whenever it wants." Gerald M. Steinberg of Bar-Ilan University noted, "Israel is in a long-term operation to reassert security control."