By Stan Goodenough
Oct 17, 2006
Egypt, which has long believed that a make-believe peace-seeking Palestinian Authority will successfully ambush Israel into a trap that will see it destroyed, messaged Hamas Monday saying the terror group had to get out of the way and allow a PA without Hamas to continue to negotiate land-for-?peace? with the Jewish state.
Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who visited with Syrian-supported Hamas leader Khaled Mesha?al in Damascus, told him Hamas needed to get out of the PA if the ?Palestinians? are to see progress in their efforts to squirrel more land out of Israel through negotiations before the violent phase two of their plan kicks in.
While Suleiman?s arguments were not disclosed, the understanding between the various Arab groups which, although divided on many fronts, are united in their determination to see Israel expunged from the Middle East means it is probable that the Egyptian promised Hamas a future when it would be able to take what was left of Israel by force.
However, Hamas may not be prepared to wait that long.
Reports Tuesday indicated that the group, which has upgraded its weaponry in Gaza to include anti-aircraft as well as advanced anti-tank missiles, is already seeking to bait Israel into deepening the conflict in the south.
Hamas men are currently being trained by Syrian instructors to emulate the Hizb?allah style of fighting that saw Israel?s mighty defense forces humiliated in southern Lebanon last July.