Note: The translations of articles from the Hebrew press are prepared by the Government Press Office as a service to foreign journalists in Israel. They express the views of the authors.
HAMAS' RESPONSE TO THE AGREEMENT
(Commentary by Roni Shaked, "Yediot Ahronot", Oct 27, 1998, p. A2)
The murder of Danny Vargas in Kiryat Arba is definitely Hamas' answer to
the Wye Plantation agreement. The agreement pushed Sheikh Yassin's
organization into a corner and Hamas is now seeking to improve its
standing and to encourage its people by shedding Jewish blood.
Hamas' military wing was smashed in recent months by the Israeli General
Security Service, but it was not destroyed. Hamas does not currently have
the operational capability to carry out large attacks; therefore, it
despatches its murderers on attacks that require fewer weapons, less
mobility and less sophistication. That describes the murder of Danny
Vargas -- the tenth attack of this type since the double murder in Yitzhar
in August 1998. This wave of terrorism has still not passed and we need to
exploit the lull until the next attack in order to capture Vargas'
murderers and to continue striking against Hamas.
Sheikh Yassin admitted that the new measures being taken by the
Palestinian Authority against his organization are liable to interfere
with his forces' ability to attack Israel. Despite this, he continues to
support, and incite towards, the path of terrorism. Two days ago, he
reiterated the formula that he has used many times: Hamas will fight the
PA legally and will fight against Israel using "military actions." These
statements are, in effect, an unwritten order to carry out attacks. One
should also remember that the members of Iz A-Din al- Qassem in the West
Bank are subject to the control of Hamas' military faction, whose
commanders are in Jordan and Syria.
Intelligence work is the only means that will lead to the arrest of
terrorist activists. Other means -- collecting illegal weapons, halting
the "revolving door" policy and the participation of CIA personnel in
plans to eliminate terrorism -- are all only a virtual war, aimed at
making headlines in the media. However, intelligence is no insurance
policy and no one in the GSS can ensure a complete halt in attacks. The
war against terrorism is not won by a "knock out," but rather on
points.