Olmert: Hamas is not a threat to Israel

[bemildred]

Jerusalem, Feb. 22: Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday that Hamas is not a strategic threat to the Jewish state, even as the Islamic militant group struck a deal to receive financing from Iran.

Israel considers Iran its staunchest enemy and promptly warned the Palestinians against aligning themselves with an international "pariah." But Olmert’s comments signalled that Israel will refrain from military action, even as it presses forward with its efforts to isolate Hamas diplomatically.

After sweeping Palestinian parliamentary elections last month, Hamas is working to cobble together a coalition government. Israel says it won’t deal with Hamas until it disarms and renounces violence. Hamas, which has killed scores of Israelis in suicide bombings, has rejected international calls to moderate — despite Israel’s efforts to isolate the group internationally and Western threats to cut off vital financial aid.

Earlier this week, Israel froze the transfer of about $50 million in tax money it collects for the Palestinians each month, its first response to the inauguration of the new Hamas-led Parliament on last Saturday.

AsianAge

[Wordie]

1. I had trouble with that link, bemildred, but here's the Guardian's version

It appears to be the same AP article here, as in your link.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5639421,00.html

And, a few more details:

...Israeli Cabinet Minister Meir Sheetrit said the government did not fear Hamas and did not plan extreme measures that could be counterproductive.

...Sheetrit, an Olmert ally, said Wednesday that a peace agreement with the Palestinians could be reached quickly if Hamas abandoned violence and recognized the Jewish state.

...Sheetrit compared the Palestinians' situation to Likud's 1977 election victory under the leadership of the fiery Menachem Begin. The following year, Begin shocked the world by opening talks with Egypt, leading to the first peace agreement between Israel and an Arab country in 1979.

Sheetrit said Begin's hard-line credentials gave him the stature to seek peace with Israel's enemies. Likewise, Hamas, after five bloody years of fighting, has the strength and credibility with the Palestinian public to pursue a peace deal, he said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5639421,00.html

A fascinating idea, don't you think, comparing Hamas with Begin?

The article also, however, quoted Sheetrit as saying, "Suppose that they really behave in the worst way ... that they will start to build a terror machine acting against Israel. ...In that case we'll have no choice but to get into them and split them up and to put everyone in jail, the prime minister, the ministers, everyone."

The article also mentions that although Israel froze the transfer of the $50 million in taxes, it's holding off on more severe measures, such as sealing off its border with Gaza. Many more details are also provided on various reactions to the Iranian funding of Hamas.

I find it hard to believe, bemildred, that this fascinating article went for almost two hours without a reply. (Although maybe others also had problems with the link.)

[bemildred]

2. The link was a bit wierd, you have to scroll down.

And I wouldn't bet on it working right with all browsers.

I thought the story was interesting by way of contrast with all the blather to the contrary on the subject, even from Olmert in other places. And of course, in general, he's right, this is the first time since Arafat went to the great beyond that there is a potential for legitimate Palestinian leadership that could make peace with some possibility for making it stick.

[Wordie]

3. I'm surprised this isn't getting more attention, really.

It is very interesting that Olmert would say such a thing. It really caught my eye, glancing over the available threads. And some of the other things in the article were really surprising too.

They don't know what they're missing. ;)