DATE=6/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233923
TITLE=ISRAEL / HAMAS (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL HAS DECIDED TO ALLOW THE LEADER OF THE MILITANT
PALESTINIAN GROUP HAMAS TO RETURN TO GAZA THIS WEEK, IN SPITE OF
SECURITY CONCERNS FOLLOWING INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS HE MADE
DURING HIGHLY-PUBLICIZED VISITS TO SEVERAL ARAB COUNTRIES IN
RECENT MONTHS. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.
TEXT: ISRAELI OFFICIALS CONFIRM THAT SHEIKH AHMED YASSIN WILL BE
ALLOWED TO RETURN TO GAZA WHEN HE IS READY, WHICH EXPECTED TO BE
THIS WEEK. THE OFFICIALS SAY THE BALANCE OF OPINIONS IN THE
GOVERNMENT AND AMONG SECURITY OFFICERS WAS THAT IT IS BETTER TO
ALLOW SHEIKH YASSIN TO RETURN THAN TO KEEP HIM OUT.
LAST WEEK, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAID THE
QUESTION OF THE SHEIKH'S RETURN WAS IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE, AND
WOULD BE DISCUSSED IN WHAT HE CALLED THE "APPROPRIATE SECURITY
FORUMS."
SOME ISRAELI OFFICIALS AND SECURITY OFFICERS ARGUED THAT ALLOWING
SHEIKH YASSIN BACK INTO GAZA WOULD PROVIDE HAMAS WITH ON-THE-SPOT
LEADERSHIP AND ACCESS TO THE SUBSTANTIAL SUMS OF MONEY HE IS
BELIEVED TO HAVE RAISED DURING HIS TRIP. OTHERS ARGUED THAT
KEEPING THE SHEIKH OUT WOULD ANTAGONIZE HAMAS, SPARK MORE ATTACKS
AND MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO MONITOR THE GROUP'S ACTIVITIES.
GAZA IS AUTONOMOUS, BUT ISRAEL CONTROLS ITS BORDERS.
SHEIKH YASSIN SPENT NEARLY TEN 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 FOUNDER AND SPIRITUAL LEADER OF HAMAS LEFT GAZA IN FEBRUARY
FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT IN EGYPT. HE THEN TRAVELED TO NUMEROUS
OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, WHERE HE REPEATEDLY CALLED FOR
ISRAEL'S DESTRUCTION AND RECEIVED PLEDGES OF FINANCIAL AND
POLITICAL SUPPORT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/JWH
15-Jun-98 8:06 AM EDT (1206 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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