US 'plot to force out Hamas'

Hamas accused the United States on Oct. 14 of fomenting internal strife among Palestinians as new details emerged of a campaign to funnel millions of dollars in funds to its opponents and provide weapons and military training for rival forces. Officially the US has put up some $42 million to bolster Hamas's political opponents ahead of possible early Palestinian elections, with officials saying the program is aimed at promoting alternatives to Hamas, which caused a sensation when it won power democratically in January. But reports in Israel suggest that cash is being diverted to military training and to purchase weapons for forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, amid growing fears that Abbas's Fatah party and Hamas are headed for a showdown. Ahmed Youssef, a political adviser to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, said that the US was trying to bring down the government by various means. "They failed in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Lebanon, and they will fail in Palestine because they have no clear plans on how to deal with Islamists," he said. "We hoped after the elections in January that they would open the door to talks, to put things on the table and to help Palestinians find a final peaceful solution, but unfortunately every time they deal with the wrong people and the wrong ideas." US cash is reportedly being used to set up training facilities for Abbas's special guard, Force 17, in the West Bank town of Jericho and in Gaza. Hamas, meanwhile has plans to strengthen its 3,000-strong Executive Force to 7,500 men, and has been importing weapons from Egypt.