Israel Matzav

Iran co-opting Hamas with Syria's help and Egypt's approval; Olmert-Peretz-Livni government silent

DEBKAfile is reporting that Iran, aided by Syria and its 'guest' Khaled Meshaal, has entered into military accords with Hamas that are designed to bring Hamas up to Hezbullah's military standards and to turn Gaza into a second front for Israel, on a par with Lebanon. Egypt's tacit consent will allow arms to be shipped through Egypt to Gaza. Meanwhile, Ehud Olmert, Amir Comrade Peretz and Tzippi Livni continue to play their fiddles....

The pacts were signed by Palestinian interior minister Said Siyam (picture) and his Iranian opposite number Mustafa Pour-Mohammadi, a leading light of the Revolutionary Guards.

DEBKAfile’s Iranian sources report Tehran has committed to training Hamas’ rapid deployment force of 6,500 men in Hizballah combat tactics, with the accent on missiles, especially the anti-tank variety which were used with devastating effect against Israeli tanks in the Lebanon War. The force will be sent over in batches for six-week courses at Revolutionary Guards installations in southern Iran.

Iran will foot the $60 million bill for the training as well as for the top-notch weaponry.

The Hamas military delegation flew from Cairo to Dubai and on to Tehran. Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and intelligence chief, Gen. Omar Suleiman, were apprised of the Hamas leaders’ trip and the military accords they were to sign, but did nothing to detain the travelers.

This was taken by Hamas and the Iranian government as signaling Cairo’s assent to the Hamas-Iranian transaction, a green light for the trips through Egypt of trainee groups to and from Iran and a continuing blind eye to the delivery of Iranian armaments via Egypt to Gaza.

Egypt is thus assuming the same role In relation to Tehran and its terrorist proxies as does Syria, which places its airfields at Iran’s disposal for delivering arms to Hizballah.

For those who have forgotten, Egypt is the third largest recipient of US foreign aid and has had a peace treaty with Israel since 1979. So much for signing peace treaties with Arab countries....

This development is the direct consequence of this summer’s Lebanon War. It was made possible by Israel’s evacuation of the Gaza Strip in September 2005.

The Gaza maneuver shows Iran’s rulers striking with speed, efficiency and ruthlessness in their determination to isolate the Jewish state and draw a military noose around its borders.

Instead of resistance, they encounter inertia on the part of Israel’s political and military leaders. Prime minister Ehud Olmert has eyes for nothing but broadening the base of his government coalition. He has offered to create for Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the (Russian immigrant) party Israel Beitenu, the new post of Deputy Prime minister for Strategic Threats. Defense minister Amir Peretz thinks it is more important to prepare the armed forces for the evacuation of unauthorized West Bank settlements than for the next war. By the time they find a moment from these preoccupations, they will find Iran, Syria and Hamas have perfected a real strategic threat. By then it will be too late to repel except by a major campaign to recapture the Gaza Strip and crush the Hizballah-style force threatening southern Israel.

Is anyone listening?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:15 PM