Netanyahu: Hamas endangers the West
But Peres scoffs – says no need to be 'scared' of terror group
 

By Stan Goodenough

February 23rd, 2006
 
 
Likud Party Leader Binyamin Netanyahu’s realistic grasp of the threat and goal of Islamic terrorists contrasted sharply Tuesday with veteran land-for-peacenik Shimon Peres’ inexplicably enduring dream of a “new” Middle East.

Addressing a pack of foreign journalists near the Old City, Netanyahu warned that their countries, and not just Israel, were on Hamas’ hit list. The Islamist group saw itself as part of a global jihad en route to bringing the world into submission to Allah.

But addressing a hall full of high school students three miles down the road, Peres scoffed at such sentiments, saying there was no need to fear Hamas:

"What are people scared of now? If Hamas hit us with terrorist attacks we will strike them back much harder."
It was not immediately clear who it was who would strike back much harder. Certainly the interim Kadima-led government of Ehud Olmert has made no real effort to hit the terrorists firing Kassam rockets from Gaza every day any harder than they were being hit before Israel abandoned the Strip.

Netanyahu, an internationally recognized expert on battling terrorism, believes Islamist groups have a global goal.

"Hamas is not a local organization. It's part of a worldwide Islamic movement that is trying to liberate the State of Israel and fight a mad, historic battle with the West."
Destroying Israel, the former prime minister argued, was not Hamas' ultimate goal.

"They are after you. For them, Israel is the little Satan, America is the big Satan and Europe is the middle Satan."
Held by some to be the planet’s fastest-growing religion, Islam has already spread its tentacles throughout the Western world, has clamped an unshakable grip on Europe, and has the United States fixed in its sights.

And as the recent riots and demonstrations – purportedly against a cartoon depiction of Mohammed – vividly revealed to anyone not yet aware of it, what’s left of Judeo-Christian civilization is beating a humiliating and hasty retreat before the growing, seemingly unstoppable, Muslim menace.