Penelope
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- Jul 15, 2014
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Israeli general sees common interests with Hamas
JERUSALEM
Israel and Hamas share common interests, and the Palestinian Islamists must stay in power in the Gaza Strip to prevent the enclave descending into chaos, an Israeli general was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Major-General Sami Turgeman, who as commander of Israel's forces outside Gaza had a leading role in last year's war with Hamas, cast the group in a pragmatic light in remarks reported in the top-selling Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
By doing so, he appeared to take a softer public line toward Hamas than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has likened the movement to Islamic State insurgents sweeping Syria, Iraq and elsewhere in the region.
Speaking to the heads of Israeli villages on the Gaza periphery on Monday, Turgeman said Hamas seeks stability and "does not want global jihad" -- a term Israel uses to describe Islamic State, al Qaeda and their off-shoots.
"Israel and Hamas have shared interests, including in the current situation, which is quiet and calm and growth and prosperity," said the general
Israeli general says Hamas needed for Gaza stability The National
(I imagine they want to keep Hamas there as a reason to start a war with them every couple years)
JERUSALEM
Israel and Hamas share common interests, and the Palestinian Islamists must stay in power in the Gaza Strip to prevent the enclave descending into chaos, an Israeli general was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Major-General Sami Turgeman, who as commander of Israel's forces outside Gaza had a leading role in last year's war with Hamas, cast the group in a pragmatic light in remarks reported in the top-selling Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
By doing so, he appeared to take a softer public line toward Hamas than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has likened the movement to Islamic State insurgents sweeping Syria, Iraq and elsewhere in the region.
Speaking to the heads of Israeli villages on the Gaza periphery on Monday, Turgeman said Hamas seeks stability and "does not want global jihad" -- a term Israel uses to describe Islamic State, al Qaeda and their off-shoots.
"Israel and Hamas have shared interests, including in the current situation, which is quiet and calm and growth and prosperity," said the general
Israeli general says Hamas needed for Gaza stability The National
(I imagine they want to keep Hamas there as a reason to start a war with them every couple years)