Iran controlled Hamas needs to be removed

Telegraph:

Mr Netanyahu, the leader of the Right-wing Likud Party who until recently enjoyed a strong lead in the opinion polls for next month’s general election, said Hamas was controlled by Iran and declared that it should “ultimately be removed”.

“Hamas is at the service of Iran and militant Islam,” he said. “Israel cannot tolerate an Iranian base next to its cities.”

Mr Netanyahu, who was prime minister between 1996 and 1999, may return to power at the elections due on Feb 10. The present coalition government, dominated by the Labour Party and the centrist Kadima Party, has not committed itself to the removal of Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since June 2007.

Mr Netanyahu pointed to intelligence estimates that Iran would be able to develop a nuclear weapon in two years and predicted that Tehran would use Hamas to attack Israel. “If Iran has nuclear weapons then a forward base like 'Hamastan’ in Gaza becomes 10 times more dangerous. They openly proclaim their intention of using these weapons against us,” he said.

But Mr Netanyahu refrained from saying that “removing” Hamas should be the aim of the present offensive in Gaza, which entered its 18th day yesterday. The campaign is designed to prevent Palestinian fighters from firing rockets at Israel’s southern cities.

Mr Netanyahu believes that toppling Hamas from power in Gaza should be a long-term policy objective. “If the government also decides to adopt this goal, we will back it,” he said.

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I think it is pretty clear if Netanyahu wins on Feb. 10, removal of Hamas will be Israeli policy.

Israel is right to worry about the death cult teaming up with Iran to deliver a nuclear attack on Israel. I suspect that is one reason Hamas has been so insistent on open borders with Israel.