Special to WorldTribune.com

JERUSALEM — Israel’s government appears divided over Hamas demands to end the war with the Jewish state.

Officials reported rising tension within the Cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They said many ministers were angry over concessions by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon in an effort to reach a long-term ceasefire with Hamas.

“Israel is attempting to reach calm at any price,” Tourism Minister Uzi Landau said.

Officials said Netanyahu and Ya’alon agreed to Hamas’ demands for a sea port, unlimited imports of dual-use goods as well as recognition of the Hamas-Fatah government in the Palestinian Authority. They said the prime minister was under heavy pressure by the United States, which offered to guarantee Israeli compliance.

“We are turning Hamas into an international player,” Landau, a former member of Netanyahu’s Likud Party, said.

So far, Netanyahu, accused of concealing details of ceasefire negotiations from the Cabinet, has linked the sea port to the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, which Hamas rejected. Still, Netanyahu’s colleagues in the Likud have warned that Washington could offer what they termed empty promises of demilitarization in exchange for a Gaza port that would establish a direct link with Iran.

“This would be a duty-free port for rockets and in the future Scuds [ballistic missiles],” Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz, regarded as close to Netanyahu, said.

On late Aug. 18, Israel’s Ynet news website reported that Netanyahu agreed to shelve his demand for the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip. Ynet, quoting “sources in Jerusalem,” said the prime minister reached a secret understanding with the United States to open land and sea routes to the Hamas-controlled strip.

“The issue of the strip’s demilitarization, which Israel demanded during Operation Protective Edge, will most likely not be included in the accord developing in Cairo, though the U.S. will support the Israeli demand for the prevention of Hamas and other terror organization’s efforts to rearm,” Ynet said.

Officials acknowledged that Hamas was buoyed by the five-week war with Israel. They said Israel failed to whittle any of Hamas’ demands while much of the south remains under threat from renewed rocket attacks.

“The current situation in which we are biting our nails waiting for the response of a murderous terrorists group must end,” Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, deemed the leading rival of Netanyahu, said. “We must stop negotiations with Hamas and take our fate into our own hands.”

Still, the prime minister has garnered support from several Cabinet members. They included Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, both of whom have been wooed by the administration of President Barack Obama.

“We must create an international mechanism to make sure they [southern residents] are safe,” Lapid said.
The military was said to oppose a Gaza sea port. Military sources have warned that such a port would result in an Iranian base in the Gaza Strip responsible for rearming Hamas and its Palestinian militia allies.

“Let’s say an Iranian ship docked at the Gaza port for a visit,” former Israel Navy commander [Ret.] Vice Adm. Eliezer Marom said on Army Radio. “We know that Iranian military vessels smuggle munitions nearly every time they hoist anchor. But, because this is a military craft, we can’t inspect it. So, we’ve in effect established an Iranian port two hours away from [the Israel Navy base at] Ashdod.”

  Israeli ministers angered by Netanyahu’s concessions to Hamas, Likud Party, Moshe Ya’alon, Tzipi Livni, Uzi Landau