U.S. officials: Removal of Gaza settlements will boost Hamas

[Gimel]

U.S. officials said Tuesday that they are worried that unilateral Israeli moves to relocate settlers from the Gaza Strip will boost the standing of Palestinian extremists amid concerns about a growing "anarchy" on Palestinian streets.

The radical Hamas group could be expected to claim credit for the Israeli withdrawal and may become the "dominant" force in Gaza by undercutting an already weakened Palestinian Authority, the officials said.

"That would be a real big negative for President (George W.) Bush's vision of two states living in peace and security because the Hamas vision is one state with no Jews in it," one senior U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday.

Other U.S. officials said the initiative could be beneficial if it is carefully thought out and well executed but this is not always Israel's approach to Palestinian issues.

Continued here..

[madrchsod]

1. i give up

trying to understand the whitehouse policies regarding the i-p question. it makes my head hurt....

[Gimel]

2. Avoiding Hamas take-over

If it gives Hamas a victory, it would be counter-productive. IDF military will remain in Gaza.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I heard this yesterday on the radio news

This has to be one of the most beleaguered places in the world. I just cannot imagine the trauma of living there. Something must be done to relieve this, irrelevant of Hamas.