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Opposition leader and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu. (Haim Taragan)
Last update - 00:00 17/06/2007
Netanyahu: Israel's unilateral policy failed, gave rise to 'Hamastan'
By Aluf Benn and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents

Opposition leader and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview Sunday morning that one of the main lessons to be learned from the current conflict in Gaza is that Israel's unilateral policy, such as the policy implemented during the 2005 disengagement, has failed.

In an interview with Army Radio Netanyahu said that "the lesson to be learned from our one-sided operations, which are hasty, poorly planned, and don't take into consideration what we're leaving behind, is that they can lead to the creation of a copy of 'Hamastan', or this 'Islamistan' in the West Bank, as it currently exists in Gaza."

"The reason there isn't already a 'Hamastan' in the West Bank is the fact that the Israel Defense Forces are deployed there with all their strength," he added, referring to the violent takeover of the Gaza Strip staged by Hamas over the past week.
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Netanyahu maintained that the violent conflict between rival factions Hamas and Fatah in the Gaza Strip does not stem from mistakes made by the military, but rather from political mistakes made by former prime ministers Ehud Barak and Ariel Sharon.

"This is a mistake, made by two prime ministers, which began with the hasty withdrawal from Lebanon, which opened up the entire territory to Iran, and later ? the direct continuation of this move ? in Gaza. These are two moves that created two Iranian terror bases, one operated by Hezbollah and the other by Hamas, with the potential to threaten Israel," he said.

"In the long run, Israel will not be able to live with the establishment of an Iranian terror base on the outskirts of Tel Aviv or Be'er Sheva," he continued.

However, he recommended that Israel refrain from an Israel Defense Forces operation within the Gaza Strip. According to Netanyahu, Israel and the IDF must prepare for a possible attack, and simultaneously ensure the isolation of the Hamas regime, and ultimate downfall, using diplomatic methods and in coordination with the United States, Egypt and Jordan.
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  1.   Bibi: To the Point, as Usual 12:16  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 17/06/07
  2.   Netanyahu 12:35  |  Steve Goldfarb 17/06/07
  3.   Netanyahu 12:46  |  Steve 17/06/07
  4.   No, it started with Israel`s unilateral taking of land 12:49  |  Tim 17/06/07
  5.   Bibi is a victim (of his own propaganda) 12:50  |  Natallie Durson 17/06/07
  6.   HAMAS COUP D`ETAT 13:00  |  Neutered Observer 17/06/07
  7.   Historical disengagements 13:11  |  Esther 17/06/07
  8.   Nethanyau is right, for all the wrong reasons 13:44  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/06/07
  9.   to Ovadia on Bibi to the point 14:31  |  alex 17/06/07
  10.   Hamas victory 14:43  |  haml 17/06/07
  11.   TO 4: ITS ALL ISRAELS AND IT ALWAYS WAS 14:51  |  THE LIBRARIAN 17/06/07
  12.   Swiss (Dino) 15:30  |  Gil 17/06/07
  13.   #4 tim swallows MAPLE LEAF AND CHOKES ON FACTS 15:30  |  paul harris 17/06/07
  14.   #8 DINO AND REASONING ARE LIKE YODELLING 15:33  |  paul harris 17/06/07
  15.   Response for Natallie D #5 15:36  |  Esther 17/06/07
  16.   6# a coup d`etat? 15:42  |  Fritz 17/06/07
  17.   # 7 Esther 15:46  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/06/07
  18.   hamastan 15:52  |  jef 17/06/07
  19.   TO Tim #4 16:04  |  Moshe 17/06/07
  20.   # 10 Gil 16:19  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/06/07
  21.   # 12 paul harris Best wishes from Switzerland 16:26  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/06/07
  22.   Gaza an Israel`s mistake 16:30  |  Chris Linthwaite 17/06/07
  23.   to Tim #4 17:02  |  Michael 17/06/07
  24.   Response to Steve Goldfarb, #2 17:06  |  sandra chitayat 17/06/07
  25.   Natanyada, yada, yada 17:08  |  Kate 17/06/07
  26.   Final disengagement of the West Bank. 17:13  |  sandra chitayat 17/06/07
  27.   Canadian Tim #4 17:13  |  Amused 17/06/07
  28.   Swiss (Dino) 17:19  |  Gil 17/06/07
  29.   #6 The Death of A Democracy 17:22  |  Kate 17/06/07
  30.   Psssst! The Cows Gone 17:58  |  Tony Anthony 17/06/07
  31.   The next prime minister of Israel 18:18  |  JB 17/06/07
  32.   Amused and Michael..thanks for the admission 21:44  |  Tim 17/06/07
  33.   right of Israel to exist 21:46  |  chas Ambler 29/12/08
  34.   Instant assumptions 22:04  |  chas ambler 29/12/08
 Read & React
Two Israelis die as rockets fired from Gaza hit south
Responses: 156
Bradley Burston: Who speaks for Gazans, when they need it most?
Responses: 110
Tom Segev: Trying to 'teach Hamas a lesson' is wrong
Responses: 141
Amira Hass: 'Gaza strike is against all Palestinians'
Responses: 88
Greek paper: World Jewish plutocracy behind Gaza strife, global financial crisis
Responses: 60
Why hasn't Hamas responded to Gaza strikes with greater force?
Responses: 35


More Headlines
01:33 Rockets fired from Gaza kill 2 Israelis within hour
02:58 ANALYSIS / Hamas is hoping for an IDF ground operation
03:02 Israel targets senior Hamas, Islamic Jihad commanders in fresh Gaza strikes
20:20 Hezbollah: Defending Gaza means offering blood of martyrs
02:18 David Grossman / Is Israel too imprisoned in the familiar ceremony of war?
02:28 EU to press Israel on ceasing Gaza operation
01:42 U.S.: Hamas must halt rocket fire at Israel, agree to lasting truce
23:23 WATCH: Israel's attack on Gaza from the missiles' point of view
16:50 IN PICTURES / Firestorm over Gaza
13:02 Top PA negotiator: No peace talks with Israel during Gaza assault
01:48 VIDEO / Egyptian paper: Hamas leaders partially responsible for Gaza assault
12:07 Gaza War Diary II - Who speaks for the Gazans?
15:41 Greek paper: World Jewish plutocracy behind Gaza strife, global financial crisis
02:44 Amira Hass / Uncertainty and bombing keep Gazans awake and fearful of who will be next
12:28 Report: Captive IDF soldier Shalit wounded in Gaza air strikes
12:11 Iran clerics enlist volunteers to fight 'Zionist regime' in Gaza
07:41 Why hasn't Hamas responded to Gaza strikes with greater force?
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