|
Trending Topics
|
Defense Official: Hamas Behind Attacks on Israel
(Ha'aretz) Amos Harel - Hamas is continuing to direct terrorist activity at Israeli targets through various means, despite its public declarations that it is committed to maintaining calm. Israeli intelligence sources acknowledged, however, that Hamas currently wishes to maintain a low profile in an effort not to anger the Egyptians and not be perceived as violating the current cease-fire. A senior Israeli defense official said Hamas "understands that this language [of violence] is currently less acceptable in the international arena....Attacks clearly committed by Hamas would not be compatible with the spirit of the times, and the group also doesn't want to give Israel a reason to send the IDF back into Gaza, but Hamas terror from Gaza is continuing all the time, especially - and openly - via Sinai." The assessment in Israel is that Hamas and Islamic Jihad understand very well that the decision to fire Fajr missiles into Tel Aviv could come at the cost of another Israeli invasion of Gaza.