A message to Hamas

From Ynetnews - Opinion - A message to Hamas 16/3/06 by Sever Plocker ....

The IDF operation in Jericho Tuesday was a pointed message: Don't break agreements with us, or you'll pay in spades. The message was intended for the extremists in Hamas.

. . .Don't even think about breaking existing agreements, like you threatened to do with the guys who killed Rehavam Zeevi. Because the minute you do, we'll be in your house to deliver a quick, sharp dose of preventive medicine. We've got the military might and the intelligence information to do it, and we have become fanatics about keeping agreements. We have especially become fanatics about Hamas.

... the Jericho operation has given them an extremely unpleasant choice: If Hamas rips up the agreements signed by the Fatah government it will simply be unable to rule. The tanks that rolled into Jericho could easily do so to Ramallah to shut down Palestinian matters of state.

... The Hamas leadership is comprised of men who know well how to interpret Israeli moves. They interpret and they fear.

Hamas decided to stop terror attacks when it became clear that left with no other options, Israel would go so far as to assassinate Sheikh Yassin on a wet winter's day, without worrying about setting the entire Middle East on fire, as many experts predicted would happen. But the fire never broke out.

... Israeli residents continue to live with memories of the intifada, when any Israeli action brought another wave of terror. But since then, reality has changed. Terror organizations now have limited ability to operate; they are only able to enlist limited numbers of suicide candidates. There is no longer a nation behind them ready to sacrifice itself as it once was.

Reports in the international media about the operation itself were restrained and balanced. Western governments reacted with understanding, even with sympathy.

And Arab governments? As usual, they fled the scene. They gave no support to Hamas. This message, too, was received in Gaza and Ramallah.

The folks who came out with their hands up from the prison in Jericho could well have signaled the beginning of the end of the Hamas government, before it has even been established.