Hamas is certain that once it takes control of Judea and Samaria it will be able to destroy Israel “with a speed that no one can imagine.”
Palestinian terrorists march in Gaza. (Photo: Emad Nassar/Flash90)
Senior Hamas Political Bureau member Mahmoud Al-Zahar stated last week that he aspires to build an Islamic state in all of ‘Palestine’, and the key to actualizing this ambition lies with their control of Judea and Samaria, Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reports. The implication of this plan is the erasing of the State of Israel.
Hamas seeks to gain a military foothold in Judea and Samaria, from which it believes it will be able to destroy Israel. He alluded to a possible future war of destruction against Israel by citing a chapter from the Koran.
“Al-Zahar said that if his movement [Hamas] were to ‘transfer what it has or just a small part of it to the West Bank, we would be able to settle the battle of the final promise with a speed that no one can imagine,'” PMW reports.
“The final promise” is a term taken from the Koran (17:7): “Then when the final promise came, [We sent your enemies]… to enter the temple in Jerusalem, as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction.'” Hamas’ usage of this phrase in this context is promising a future war of destruction against Israel.
Hamas is certain that once it takes control of Judea and Samaria it will be able to destroy Israel “with a speed that no one can imagine.”
Broad Support for Hamas in Judea and Samaria
Celebration in Ramallah of Hamas’ alleged capture of an IDF soldier during Operation Protective Edge. (Photo: Issam Rimawi/Flash90)
A recent poll shows that Hamas indeed has a strong base of support in Judea and Samaria and would be well received there if they were to take control. Last week, the Palestinian Center for Policy and Research found that if elections were held now between Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Haniyeh would win with 55-percent support, compared to 38 percent for Abbas. Interestingly, Haniyeh would win with only 48 percent in Gaza, but in Judea and Samaria Hamas’ Haniyeh is even stronger, winning 57 to 33 percent over Abbas.
Failed Coup
Hamas has recently taken action towards gaining control of the PA-controlled areas in Judea and Samaria, an attempt thwarted by Israel’s security forces.
Terror cells created by Hamas in 46 Palestinian towns and neighborhoods – including Jenin, Nablus (Shechem), Ramallah and Hebron – were set up to overthrow the existing Fatah government and replace it with Hamas.
Author: Aryeh Savir
Staff Writer, United with Israel
(With files from PMW)