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Palestinian Arabs

Hamas and allies prepare for victory

Iran suggests Israeli pullout will lead to its defeat


By Ryan Jones
March 31, 2006

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's intention to surrender most of Judea and Samaria, allowing the de facto establishment of a sovereign Hamas state, will lead to a confrontation that the terror group and its allies throughout the Middle East will easily win, declared the head of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards Wednesday.

Speaking on state television in Tehran, General Yahya Rahim Safavi commented on Olmert's election victory and the inauguration of the Palestinian Authority's Hamas-led government, both of which happened Tuesday:

"(If) they confront one another, with the Muslims' support for the revolutionary Palestinians, great victories will definitely be for the Palestinians.

"Today the Iranians are hand-in-hand with the Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis and Palestinians initiating a new trend that will free Palestine and will see the defeat of the Zionists and the US's greater Middle East plan."

Despite the clear warnings, Olmert reacted to news of his victory by stating his determination to follow through with his "convergence plan," which will see Israel vacate some 90 percent of Judea and Samaria and hide behind its security barrier.

But his specious approach is attracting increased criticism, even from some of the land-for-peace camp's most devoted defenders.

Argued prominent Ha'aretz journalist Ari Shavit in a conversation with Kadima's Haim Ramon prior to the election:

"I want a division of the land. But I hold that Ehud Olmert's...unilateral division plan is dangerous. It will lead to the establishment of an armed and hostile Hamas state that will undercut the stability of Israel, Jordan and the Middle East...It will inevitably lead to war."

Israel's most dangerous enemies, it seems, are in full agreement.

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