Israel's Shin Bet (National Security Service) Director Yuval Diskin said on Monday that Hamas poses a long-term strategic threat to Israel and the rise of the Islamic group could radicalize Israel's Arab population.

Speaking to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of Knesset (parliament), Diskin said, "In the long term, Hamas represents a strategic threat to Israel."

"Whoever understands the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, to whom Hamas is connected, appreciates that Hamas has not 'changed its skin,' and will continue to believe in the need to destroy the state of Israel," Diskin said.

Diskin added that the Shin Bet expected that Hamas would attempt to prevent terror attacks in the near future to prove to the world that they are in control, but he did not expect Hamas' victory to change the behavior of the Islamic Jihad, another militant group, which would continue to carry out terrorist attacks.

The Shin Bet head speculated that a halt of fund transfer to the Palestinian National Authority will avert Hamas' attempt to strengthen their rule.

In the long run, Diskin believes, Hamas will have difficulties obtaining fund from donor countries.

Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, won 74 seats out of the 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council in the Jan. 25 elections, defeating the long-dominant Fatah movement which got 46 seats.

The militant group, which was involved in suicide attacks against Israel, has rejected Western threats to cut off aid unless it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and accepts existing agreements with Israel, including the Mideast road map peace plan.

Source: Xinhua