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Source: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11209/iran-hamas-destroy-israel
The Iran-Hamas Plan to Destroy Israel
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - A high-level Hamas delegation headed by Saleh Arouri, deputy chairman of Hamas' "political bureau," traveled to Tehran last week to brief Iranian leaders on the "reconciliation" deal with Fatah. Arouri rushed to Tehran to seek the support of the Iranian regime in the wake of demands by Abbas that Hamas allow the Palestinian Authority to assume security control over Gaza. Iran wants Hamas to retain its security control over Gaza so that the Iranians can hold onto another power base in the Middle East. Iran wants Hamas to continue playing the role of a proxy, precisely as Hizbullah functions in Lebanon. The last thing Iran wants is for the Palestinian Authority security forces to return to Gaza: that would spoil Tehran's plans to advance its goal of destroying Israel. Iran's continued support for Hamas stems not out of love for either Hamas or the Palestinians, but from its own interest in consolidating its presence in the Middle East. The Egyptians are now wary of the sudden rapprochement between Iran and Hamas and are beginning to ask themselves whether they have been duped by Hamas. The lesson to be drawn from the renewal of ties between Hamas and Iran is that Hamas is not headed toward moderation and pragmatism.