Israel expects Hamas to attack when agreement on talks is reached

JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Israeli security authorities expect Islamic opponents to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to launch attacks in Israel when an agreement is reached on resuming the peace process.

They said the current escalation in attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank is a prelude to much greater violence once Israel withdraws from the West Bank and reaches agreement with the PA on the start of final status talks. They pointed to the recent suicide mission in which a Palestinian plowed through soldiers at a hitching station in central Israel as the possible start of a new stage in attacks.

"There is no doubt that Hamas and Islamic Jihad will try to torpedo any agreement between Israel and the PA," Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz told reporters last month. "The question is what will be the intensity of the attacks that will accompany the [peace] process."

Security officials said they are not satisfied with the level of cooperation with the PA. They said the PA appears to be lax in fighting attempts to attack Israelis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, although they appear committed in stopping attacks inside the Jewish state.

"They [on PA] are cooperating," Mofaz said. "I can't say that this is in a massive way."