"From my reading of Hamas publications in Arabic, it is
clear that there is no way back, only ahead, to take control in the West
Bank if they become strong enough."
In a recent briefing, Fighel said Hamas would not end efforts to destroy
Israel. He dismissed the prospect of any genuine Hamas ceasefire with
Israel.
"Hamas could agree to a hudna [calm] for 50 years, but there will be no
recognition of Israel or a cessation of the struggle against it," Fighel
told the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. "If Hamas was ready to act
pragmatically, it would no longer be Hamas."
Fighel said any Hamas decision to recognize Israel would split the
Islamic movement. He said Hamas dissidents would then form Al Qaida-aligned
groups in the Gaza Strip, already a rising force in the region.
"There is no political wing of Hamas disconnected from the operational
wing," Fighel said. "There are no pragmatists to speak to. At the end of the
day, those who believe that trying to talk to Hamas is the right way to
conduct business here in the Middle East will be in for a big
disappointment."
Fighel said Al Qaida philosophy, which he termed "global Islam," has
penetrated the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The new groups have been
inspired by Saudi Wahabi ideology, which calls for Islamic war throughout
the world.
"The bottom line is that we are seeing the same pattern of global
jihad-oriented groups starting to be active in Gaza," Fighel said. "They
have carried out some attacks, mostly directed against foreign, Western
institutions like the YMCA and the American School. Yet they have played
only a marginal role in attacks against Israeli targets."
