DATE=6/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233572
TITLE=ISRAEL / HAMAS (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT IS MOVING TOWARD A DECISION ON
WHETHER TO ALLOW THE FOUNDER OF THE MILITANT PALESTINIAN GROUP
HAMAS TO RETURN TO THE GAZA STRIP THIS WEEKEND. V-O-A'S AL
PESSIN IN JERUSALEM REPORTS THE ISSUE IS RELATED TO SECURITY
CONCERNS AND EFFORTS TO OVERCOME THE DEADLOCK IN THE PEACE
PROCESS.
TEXT: HAMAS MEMBERS SAY IF THEIR LEADER, SHEIKH AHMED YASSIN, IS
NOT ALLOWED TO RETURN TO GAZA, THEY WILL LAUNCH A SERIES OF
ATTACKS ON ISRAEL. ISRAEL IS CONCERNED HAMAS MIGHT DO THE SAME,
AND WORSE, IF THE LEADER IS ALLOWED TO RETURN.
THE ISSUE IS ON ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S DESK.
/// NETANYAHU ACT ///
THIS IS SOMETHING, A SUBJECT OF GREAT IMPORTANCE AND
GREAT SENSITIVITY, THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IN THE
APPROPRIATE SECURITY FORUMS, AND I INTEND TO COMPLETE
THAT DISCUSSION AND REACH A DECISION, BUT NOT IN FRONT
OF THE CAMERAS.
/// END ACT ///
ISRAELI SECURITY OFFICIALS APPEAR TO BE UNCERTAIN WHETHER IT
WOULD BE MORE DANGEROUS TO ALLOW SHEIKH YASSIN TO RETURN, OR TO
KEEP HIM OUT. SOME ARGUE KEEPING HIM OUT WOULD ANTAGONIZE HAMAS,
SPARK MORE ATTACKS, AND MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO MONITOR THE
SHEIKH'S ACTIVITIES. OTHERS SAY LETTING HIM IN WOULD PROVIDE
HAMAS WITH ON-THE-SPOT LEADERSHIP AND MORE MONEY TO WORK WITH.
MR. NETANYAHU HAS ONLY A FEW DAYS TO DECIDE, AS THE SHEIKH IS
EXPECTED BACK IN GAZA ON SATURDAY.
SHEIKH YASSIN SPENT NEARLY 10 YEARS IN ISRAELI JAILS FOR
INVOLVEMENT IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES BEFORE HE WAS RELEASED LAST
OCTOBER. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AGREED TO SET HIM FREE IN
EXCHANGE FOR THE RETURN OF TWO ISRAELI AGENTS WHO HAD BEEN
ARRESTED IN JORDAN WHILE TRYING TO ASSASSINATE ANOTHER HAMAS
LEADER.
THE 62-YEAR-OLD CLERGYMAN IS IN FRAIL HEALTH, AND HE LEFT GAZA IN
FEBRUARY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT IN EGYPT. SINCE THEN, HE HAS
VISITED NUMEROUS ARAB COUNTRIES AND IRAN, AND HE IS REPORTED TO
HAVE RAISED TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SUPPORT HAMAS
ACTIVITIES. THOSE ACTIVITIES RANGE FROM CLINICS AND SCHOOLS TO
SUICIDE BOMBINGS -- ALL BASED ON A FUNDAMENTALIST INTERPRETATION
OF ISLAMIC TEACHING. SPECIFICALLY, THE SHEIKH SAYS ISLAM FORBIDS
LONG-TERM COMPROMISE WITH ISRAEL.
SHEIKH YASSIN'S POPULARITY AMONG PALESTINIANS HAS BEEN GROWING IN
RECENT MONTHS, AS HIS TRAVELS HAVE RECEIVED WIDE PUBLICITY AND
THE PEACE PROCESS HAS BEEN STALLED. SOME IN THE PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY ARE CONCERNED HE COULD BECOME A THREAT TO THE
PALESTINIAN LEADER, YASSER ARAFAT, AND THE MODERATE APPROACH HE
REPRESENTS.
BUT BECAUSE ISRAEL CONTROLS THE BORDERS OF THE AUTONOMOUS
PALESTINIAN AREAS, INCLUDING GAZA, IT IS UP TO PRIME MINISTER
NETANYAHU TO DECIDE WHETHER IT WOULD BE BETTER TO KEEP THE SHEIKH
OUT AND ANTAGONIZE HAMAS, OR TO LET HIM IN WHERE HE COULD LEAD A
NEW WAVE OF TERROR ATTACKS.
/// REST OPT ///
MEANWHILE, PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SAYS PROGRESS IS BEING MADE
TOWARD THE NEXT AGREEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY. BUT HE
SAYS THERE WILL NOT BE AN AGREEMENT UNTIL HE IS CONVINCED
ISRAEL'S SECURITY IS PROTECTED AND THE PALESTINIANS WILL FULFILL
ALL THEIR OBLIGATIONS. THE PALESTINIANS SAY MR. NETANYAHU IS
STALLING AND SHOULD ACCEPT THE U-S COMPROMISE PROPOSAL, AS THEY
HAVE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/JWH/WTW
09-Jun-98 7:10 AM EDT (1110 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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