Sunday, August 5, 2007

MI: Hamas and Fatah will likely clash in West Bank

"The head of the research division of Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz, told lawmakers Sunday that the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah would likely clash in the West Bank very soon.

In June, after five days of bitter clashes between the two groups, Hamas seized control over the Gaza Strip, leaving the West Bank largely under Fatah control.

Baidatz spoke before the cabinet at its weekly meeting and explained that Fatah's security forces have been trying to curb Hamas' power in the West Bank, but have not been entirely effective. They have not been able to expand their power, and still rely on the Israel Defense Forces to fight Hamas.

According to Baidatz, the humanitarian crisis reportedly caused by the shutting down of the crossings along the Gaza border is not apparent. He said that Hamas' rule in the coastal territory is growing continually stronger and that the group is preparing for next step in the confrontation with Israel......

The intelligence official also told the cabinet that the fear of an Israeli attack persists among the Syrians, despite countless claims to the contrary made by senior figures in Israel. He said he believed that Syria is operating under the assumption that Israel has a secret plan to attack."

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