Hamas refuses to disarm, vows to expand in West Bank - AP and Israel Hayom Staff

by AP and Israel Hayom Staff

Underscoring the challenges in the Palestinian reconciliation effort, Hamas says its arsenal, which Fatah wants neutralized, "will not be touched. It's not for debate or talks"

The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas vowed Monday to expand its military activities against Israel into the West Bank, underscoring the challenges ahead since the organization began its reconciliation with the Fatah party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since winning legislative elections in 2006 and ousting Fatah the following year in a military coup, a move that prompted an Israeli and Egyptian blockade.

In an Egyptian-brokered deal last month, Hamas transferred control of Gaza's crossings with Israel and Egypt to the PA. Hamas was expected to take further steps to extend PA control over Gaza on Dec. 1, but disagreements between the two parties have intensified.

To restore control of Gaza and secure its authority, Fatah demands that Hamas neutralize its weapon arsenal, which the Islamic group used to eject Fatah and to fight three wars against Israel, in 2008, 2012 and 2014.

"These weapons will not be touched. It's not for debate or talks," Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, told reporters in Gaza.

"These weapons will clearly move to the West Bank to battle the [Israeli] occupation there. It's our right to fight the occupation until it ends," he said.

Hamas decries the Palestinian Authority's security cooperation with Israel in the West Bank. Fatah, in turn, accuses Hamas of hindering the Palestinian government's work in Gaza.

Al-Hayya's remarks highlight stark differences between the two groups, and the discussion of weapons has been delayed for future negotiations over broader national issues. They threatened to derail the Egyptian-mediated efforts to end a decade of Palestinian political and territorial split. On Monday, Egyptian security envoys hurried to Gaza to meet with Fatah and Hamas officials to try to save the agreement from further setbacks.

A major sticking point between Hamas and Fatah is resolving payments for nearly 40,000 employees Hamas has hired to run Gaza, and sanctions Abbas imposed on Gaza since March to pressure Hamas. Analysts believe the measures, which included electricity and payments cuts, helped bring Hamas to the negotiating table.

Fatah linked the lifting of the sanctions with further Hamas concessions. "We, with our people, will work strongly to force the government to lift the punitive measures," al-Hayya said.

AP and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/11/28/hamas-vows-not-to-disarm-threatens-to-expand-in-west-bank/

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