In a document prepared for the American government by the General Staff Planning Division, the IDF predicts Hamas will democratically come to power in Yehuda and Shomron, as it has done in Gaza.

The brief addresses concerns for the future security of Israel, inside the pre-1967 Green Line, stating Israel will have to maintain a high bar regarding security issues in the ‘final status’ agreement. The document will be presented to US Mideast envoy General James Jones in the coming days.

The authors of the document were instructed to also cite the lessons learned by Israel following the 2005 implementation of the Disengagement Plan from Gaza. Defense Minister Ehud Barak in upcoming meetings with Jones will explain Israel must assume Hamas will rise to power in Yehuda and Shomron too, and as such, security demands must be commensurate with such security realities.

The details of this report are indeed in contradiction to Barak’s decision to approve the deploying of additional PA forces in Jenin, as well as the delivery of armored vehicles, weapons and night-vision equipment. This in addition to Israel agreeing to the removal of 50 roadblocks and reducing other travel restrictions on PA motorists.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)