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Israel rules out opening Gaza border if Hamas gains
Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:12pm EST
By Adam Entous
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel has all but ruled out fully reopening border
crossings with the Gaza Strip as long as Hamas rules the enclave or stands to
benefit from easing of the restrictions, a top adviser to Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert said.
Hamas has made a shaky ceasefire, which ended Israel's 22-day offensive in the
Gaza Strip on Sunday, conditional on Israel lifting its blockade, which, the
adviser made clear, would not happen anytime soon.
The Islamist group, which won a 2006 Palestinian election and seized control of
the Gaza Strip 18 months later after routing President Mahmoud Abbas's security
forces, has been shunned by major Western powers for refusing to recognize
Israel and renounce violence.
Speaking a day after Olmert spoke by telephone to U.S. President Barack Obama,
the adviser expressed confidence the new administration in Washington would
maintain George W. Bush's policy of refusing to deal with or talk to Hamas.
The adviser spoke to a small group of reporters at Israel's military
headquarters in Tel Aviv, on condition of anonymity.
The adviser said Israel would allow the "maximum" flow of food, medicine, oil
and gas to the Gaza Strip to help its 1.5 million residents recover from the
offensive, which killed more than 1,300 Palestinians, but a wider range of
goods, including steel and cement needed for rebuilding, would have to wait.
Israel believes the restrictions will give it leverage to pressure Hamas to
free Gilad Shalit, a captured Israeli soldier. Diplomats and aid agencies say
the restrictions will doom Gaza's reconstruction, estimated to cost at least $2
billion.
Olmert's adviser said Israel's underlying goal was to deny Hamas control over
border crossings that could help it cement its hold on power. "If opening the
passages will strengthen Hamas, we won't do it," he said.
European powers have called on Israel to reopen the border crossings fully.
The adviser said he doubted Hamas would agree to let Abbas's security forces,
backed by international observers, return to the border crossings, as Israel
and Egypt have proposed.
ABBAS QUELLED WEST BANK RIOTS
He said Abbas's forces did "something remarkable" in the West Bank by
"containing riots and demonstrations" during the war in Gaza but added that
they were not ready for Gaza.
"It's a limited force. And in order to take it to Gaza, I think they need first
more training, more forces, and this is something that takes time."
Even if Hamas agreed to let Abbas's Palestinian Authority run the crossings,
Israel believes Hamas would maintain control behind the scenes and take over
"within days," he said.
"It's all nice, as an idea. But at the end of the day, if the PA (Palestinian
Authority) will not go back to control Gaza, the issue of passages will be
controlled by Hamas, no matter how, in what disguise you'll give it," the
adviser said.
"This will cement the ability of Hamas to rule, and to rule the passages," he
added.
Western diplomats and Palestinian officials complained that Israel was already
throwing up obstacles to Gaza's recovery.
This week, Israel told the United Nations and other aid groups planning for the
rebuilding that they must apply for project-by-project Israeli approval and
provide guarantees none of the work will benefit Hamas.
Israel has also prevented Abbas's government in the occupied West Bank from
transferring cash to the Gaza Strip to pay Palestinian Authority workers and
others in need of assistance.
Olmert's adviser denied preventing cash shipments but acknowledged the "big
dilemma" facing Israel on reconstruction.
"The main focus now is how to allow all the needed goods, and I don't think
that cement or metal is the needed goods now for the population," the adviser
said, referring to materials Israel fears Hamas will use to make more weapons
and bunkers.
The adviser said the goal was a mechanism that would ensure that credit for
reconstruction does not accrue to the Iran-backed Hamas, which announced on
Thursday that it would distribute up to 4,000 euros ($5,180) in cash to
families hard hit by Israel's offensive.
One potential disadvantage of funneling international reconstruction aid
through the Palestinian Authority was that Hamas would be spared the financial
burden of rebuilding, he added. Hamas could then use its resources to rebuild
its military capabilities.
(Editing by Tim Pearce)
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Jusfiq Hadjar gelar Sutan Maradjo Lelo
Allah yang disembah orang Islam tipikal dan yang digambarkan oleh al-Mushaf itu
dungu, buas, kejam, keji, ganas, zalim lagi biadab hanyalah Allah fiktif.
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