Crackdown on Hamas Movement Seen As Shift of IDF Strategy

The Israel Defense Force’s crackdown on the Hamas movement, marked by the arrest in recent days of 270 of its activists, represents a sharp change of policy toward the Moslem fundamentalist organization.

It also seems to reflect disillusionment with the idea that Islamic religious zealots, allowed to operate freely, would become a counterweight against the Palestine Liberation Organization, which Israel perceives as its mortal foe.

But now, some circles say, the Israeli authorities have come to recognize that the Islamic fundamentalists can be much less flexible and more dangerous than PLO supporters.

Hamas has made no bones about its desire to destroy Israel by holy war and take over the entire territory of what was formerly Palestine.

Some observers, in fact, speculate that the Israeli authorities struck at the fundamentalists to clear the arena for the PLO, which at least talks about a negotiated settlement.

Hamas was founded in the Gaza Strip a few months after the Palestinian uprising began in December 1987, by leading members of the radical Moslem Brotherhood.

They met at the Gaza home of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a 52-year-old quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair. Though without formal training as a cleric, he became head of Hamas and the uncontested leader of the Islamic movement in the territories.

Yassin, apparently considered too dangerous to remain at large, was arrested by the IDF at his home last Thursday, in advance of the mass round-up of Hamas activists that occurred Sunday and Monday.

ATTEMPT TO REDUCE PLO INFLUENCE

But for the last year and a half, the official attitude toward Hamas and its leadership has been more or less tolerant.

Senior figures in the defense establishment have stated privately that two considerations supported the policy of encouraging Hamas’ influence among the Palestinians.

One was the notion that granting a firm public standing to the Islamic elements, even religious and political extremists, would offset the influence of violent groups, such as the Islamic Jihad.

The other consideration was to strengthen the hand of PLO opponents within the Palestinian population.

But this policy began to change, according to unofficial sources, when it became clear that Hamas was adopting some of the worst methods of the Islamic Jihad.

In addition, the IDF believes Islamic elements in Israel proper were assisting Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to a senior security source quoted Tuesday by Ha’aretz.

According to the paper, the IDF believes its crackdown on Hamas will de-escalate the Palestinian uprising in the short term. Activists who were not arrested will need time to reorganize.

Defense sources said the neutralization of Hamas is also important because it is the only Palestinian organization whose leadership is located in the territories. The PLO is headquartered in far-off Tunis.