Israel is bracing itself for a new wave of attacks after Hamas warned
preparations for fresh violence had reached "highest levels" in response
to the announcement of continued Middle East peace talks.

By Mark Weiss in Jerusalem and Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent
Published: 9:00PM BST 03 Sep 2010

A spokesman for the Hamas military wing said no options had been ruled
out and that suicide bombings could be used to target Israel

Hamas said it had met with 12 other militant Palestinian groups in Gaza
to plan the backlash as the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu,
and the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, met in Washington for the
first face-to-face talks in 20 months.

A spokesman for the group's military wing said no options had been ruled
out and that suicide bombings could be used to target Israel in an
attempt to torpedo the new drive for peace.

Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Hamas military wing: "We declare that
the actions of resistance have gone into a new and advanced stage of
co-operation in the field at the highest levels in preparation for more
effective attacks against the enemy.

"The useless round of negotiations provides a cover for the Zionist
aggression against our people. We will not allow these negotiations to
pass over, and resistance will have its loud voice as an answer to the
land-selling negotiation."

Israeli security forces have been placed on a high level of alert and
have set up new checkpoints on roads in the West Bank.

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday called for renewed
violence to end the peace talks.

During a pro-Palestinian rally in Tehran Mr Ahmadinejad said: "The
nations of the region are able to eliminate the Zionist regime from the
face of the earth." The leader of Iran, which is known to support
militant Palestinian groups such as Hamas, said that the Israeli "regime
has no future. Its life has come to an end".

Both Hamas and Mr Ahmadinejad said that Mr Abbas had no authority to
participate in peace talks on behalf of Palestinians.

Hamas, which seized control of Gaza from Mr Abbas's Palestinian
Authority in 2007, claimed responsibility for two shootings against
Israeli cars in the West Bank this week.

Tuesday's shooting, in which four settlers were killed, prompted a
security crackdown by Mr Abbas's security forces across the West Bank.

Hundreds of Hamas activists were arrested and two suspects linked to the
second attack, in which two settlers were wounded, have been arrested.

General Adnan Damiri, a Palestinian security forces spokesman, said he
feared more violence from Hamas. "As the negotiations progress, if they
see it stands a chance, Hamas will attempt to step up the attacks," he said.

In contrast to previous attacks by militants in the West Bank, Israeli
officials this week did not lay the finger of blame at the Palestinian
Authority. Israeli security sources went out of their way to praise the
crackdown against Hamas.

Mr Netanyahu also faces domestic opposition to peace contacts.
Right-wing settlers this week resumed building at a number of locations
in the West Bank even though a ten-month moratorium declared by the
government only expires later this month.

Leading members of the centrist opposition Kadima party, though, have
indicated that they will be willing to join Mr Netanyahu's government if
there is significant progress in the peace talks.

For all sides, progressing in the face of Hamas's opposition is a
high-risk strategy, which may marginalise the group or may provide a new
focus for conflict.

Hamas and the other main rejectionist militant organisation in the
region, Hizbollah, are both backed by Iran. Many analysts see the
support for the peace process by Arab leaders such as Hosni Mubarak of
Egypt as a means of strengthening an anti-Iranian alliance.

Both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders have pledged to press ahead
with peace efforts. The next round of talks will take place in the
Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in one and a half week's time.

Mr Netanyahu, who returned to Israel on Friday from Washington, said he
did not rule out holding a referendum if the sides reach a peace deal.

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