gistfile1.txt

HAMAS--RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL 
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20.  MANY WEST BANKERS BELIEVE THAT ISRAEL 
ACTIVELY SUPPORTS HAMAS IN AN EFFORT TO DIVIDE 
PALESTINIANS AND WEAKEN THE INTIFADA.  THEY 
POINT TO THE FACT THAT HAMAS OPERATIVES ACT 
BOLDLY IN DISTRIBUTING THEIR LEAFLETS. 
SHOPKEEPERS IN JERUSALEM AND NABLUS REPORT THAT, 
WHEREAS UNLU LEAFLETS ARE DISTRIBUTED SECRETLY 
FOR FEAR OF ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES, HAMAS 
OPERATIVES WALK INTO SHOPS AND PRESENT THEIR 
LEAFLETS DIRECTLY TO THE OWNERS.  MAYOR FREIJ OF 
BETHLEHEM CLAIMS THAT MEMBERS OF SOME WELL KNOWN 
FAMILIES WHO COLLABORATE WITH ISRAELI OFFICIALS 
HAVE BEEN SEEN AMONG HAMAS STREET GANGS IN 
BETHLEHEM.  FURTHERMORE, DESPITE MASSIVE 
ARRESTS--AND THE PUBLIC IDENTITY OF MANY MB 
LEADERS--RELATIVELY FEW HAMAS LEADERS HAVE BEEN 
DETAINED.  IN RECENT WEEKS, FUNDAMENTALIST 
LEADERS HAVE GIVEN INTERVIEWS TO ISRAELI 
PUBLICATIONS THAT WOULD HAVE LANDED SECULARIST 
LEADERS IN DETENTION.  WE BELIEVE THAT, WHILE 
ISRAELI FORCES MAY BE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO 
HAMAS ACTIVITIES, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE 
TO CONCLUDE THAT ISRAEL IS PROVIDING ACTIVE 
SUPPORT.