MI chief: Hamas would react with terror to successful summit - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Tue., November 13, 2007 Kislev 3, 5768

Israel Time: 03:33 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Books

Travel

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

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.

	Advertisement

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.

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Religious identity
	Palestinian negotiator Erekat: Palestinians won't accept Israel as a 'Jewish State'


	Freedom of expression
	The head of Google Israel refuses to censor anti-Jewish hate material on the internet.

Today Online


	Erekat: Palestinians will not accept Israel as 'Jewish state'
	Responses: 485


	Haaretz.com TV: Arab family takes in homeless Jews
	Responses: 150


	Israel to pardon dozens more wanted W. Bank militants
	Responses: 96


	Rosner: It's hard to find something to talk about at this year's GA
	Responses: 6


	At least seven killed as Hamas opens fire on Arafat rally in Gaza
	Responses: 159


	Religious or secular, regulars mourn end of Jerusalem's gay bar
	Responses: 45

More Headlines
03:14 Major IDF drill to simulate large-scale W. Bank clashes


02:36 PM: Israel, PA agree to plan that skips first stage of road map


01:56 In the West Bank, wanted militants are made to feel unwanted


21:30 Head of Google Israel refuses to censor hate material on the Web


03:31 Ultra-Orthodox program taught in schools despite ministry ban


03:09 Israel agrees to pardon dozens more wanted W. Bank militants


00:34 ANALYSIS: There isn't much to talk about at this year's GA


18:33 Erekat: Palestinians will not accept Israel as 'Jewish state'


21:57 Germany to provide 5m euros for Jewish museum in Warsaw


15:10 IDF reservist dies in armored vehicle crash during Golan drill