Israeli intel: Hamas military could easily hold off U.S.-trained Palestinian force

[ErnstBlofeld]

World Tribune:

Israel's intelligence community has determined that the Palestinian Authority could not defeat Hamas.

Officials said the intelligence community asserted that, despite nearly three years of U.S. training, the PA was not strong enough to recapture the Gaza Strip from the Hamas regime. The assessment said Hamas was operating a military that could easily defeat the 25,000-member PA security force.
"The PA does not have the military or intelligence capabilities that could threaten the Hamas regime," an official said.
The assessment was said to have reflected the views of all of the major intelligence agencies. They included Military Intelligence, Mossad and the Israel Security Agency.
Officials said the intelligence assessment was requested by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of U.S.-sponsored peace talks with the PA. They said Netanyahu as well as other senior Cabinet ministers sought an assessment of the likelihood that the PA could regain control of the Gaza Strip, captured by Hamas in 2007.

Edited September 23, 2010 by Rheo
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