[bitterlemons.org] Yossi Alpher - Hamas rule in Gaza is dangerous for Israel, which needs a stable two-state solution unifying Gaza and the West Bank. Hence Israel has a strategic interest in Palestinian unity under Fatah. But it has few ways to make this happen. Of all the diverse scenarios that touch on the issue of Palestinian unity, the one that is increasingly likely - in view of ongoing aggression from Gaza - is an Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip with the objective of eliminating Hamas rule there. But if it fails to dislodge Hamas or end the violence emanating from Gaza, it will sow greater Palestinian disunity. The writer is a former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University.
2008-02-15 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive