Last update - 01:56 12/11/2007
MI chief: Hamas would react with terror to successful summit
By Mazal Mualem
Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin told the cabinet yesterday that the greater the chance for success at the Annapolis summit later this month, the greater the likelihood Hamas will try to use terror to derail it.
Yadlin also said at the cabinet's weekly meeting that a perceived failure at Annapolis is very likely to strengthen the extremists, with Hamas launching a fresh assault on Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
He said Hamas, which rejects Abbas' claim to represent the Palestinian people at Annapolis, has the will to carry out terror attacks against Israel now, irrespective of what happens at Annapolis. He said Israel's preventative capabilities are keeping the organization from carrying out attacks.
"Annapolis is not Camp David, Annapolis is the beginning of a process, and Annapolis must symbolize a horizon," Yadlin told the cabinet. "The fact that Abu Mazen [Abbas] and his camp are relatively weak is well known, but the rationale of Annapolis is to provide sufficient achievements so that he can leverage them into strengthening his camp."
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his ministers that Israel sought progress, even though it had not made any promises regarding the negotiations to follow the summit.
"There is no commitment to any deadline," Olmert said. "I want to move forward cautiously and responsibly, but I want to move forward."
Yadlin said the effect of U.S. economic sanctions against Iran is "limited." "The three Iranian banks that were added to the American terror list do not have significant assets," he said.
Yadlin also said Iran is getting around the sanctions by using other currencies such as the Japanese yen and the euro, making it necessary to broaden the moves against the country.