Hamas: After Nov. 4, 'we are stronger, and the Israelis and Americans are weaker'
Monday, November 24, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
GAZA CITY — The Hamas regime is not conerned that Israel will mount a major military invasion of the Gaza Strip, despite daily Palestinian missile strikes.
Hamas sources said the Izzedin Kassam military wing has concluded that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would tolerate daily missile, mortar and rocket strikes on the Jewish state. They said Israel's response would be minimal as long as casualties remain low.
"Our decision to accept the lull [in June 2008] was based on operational need, the damaging Israeli attacks and our view that [U.S.] President [George] Bush was strong," the Hamas source said. "None of these things is relevant today. We are stronger, and the Israelis and Americans are weaker."
"We drafted what would be Israeli options to any missile attacks, and concluded that the Olmert government was too weak to order a major operation against us," a Hamas security source said.
Israel has refrained from any major military operation since Nov. 4, when the five-month lull ended with renewed fighting. Since then, Hamas and its Palestinian militia allies have fired about 200 missiles, mortars and rockets into Israel.
Hamas has been using heavier and more accurate Kassam-class missiles as well as BM-21 Grad rockets in strikes on sensitive Israeli installations. On Nov. 21, a Kassam missile landed in Ashkelon's industrial zone, which contains strategic facilities, including an electricity generation plant and fuel depot. In a recent Palestinian missile attack, the power plant, which provides electricity to the Gaza Strip, was struck.
The Olmert government's failure to respond to Hamas strikes has angered Israelis who live near the Gaza Strip. Protests have erupted in several cities, including Ashkelon, targeted by Palestinian gunners.
"We will continue to use force," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said. "But if the other side works to maintain to truce we will be prepared to do so as well."
But officials said Olmert and Barak have pledged to Egypt, Jordan and the United States not to topple the Hamas regime. The Israeli prime minister and defense minister relayed such a pledge to Jordan's King Abdullah on Nov. 18 during a meeting in Amman.