THE IRAN FACTOR

The attack on Israel could not have happened without Tehran, says this Middle East expert

- ELLIOTT ABRAMS

THE HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL SHOWED a sophistication in planning and execution that points clearly to a deep Iranian role. The Washington Post reported that intelligence experts say "key support from Iranian allies who provided military training and logistical help as well as tens of millions of dollars for weapons" are behind the Hamas atrocity. And Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer has said, "In terms of broad complicity, we are very clear about a role for Iran," because of its support for Hamas. Whether or not Iran was directly involved in this attack, as many experts believe, it could not have happened without Iran.

Just as Iran turned the Lebanese Shia militant and political organization Hezbollah into one of the world's largest and most dangerous terrorist groups, so it has been pouring money into Hamas for years training its gunmen, helping with plans and providing all the weaponry it could smuggle in.

The Hamas attack is a reminder not only of the medieval barbarity of that group, but also of the Iranian role in the Middle East. Just as Iran has continued to interfere in Iraqi politics and support Shia militias there, and prevent stability in Lebanon through Hezbollah, so it is trying to prevent any progress between Israel and Arab states or between Israel and Palestinians. Peace in the Middle East is not in Iran's interest and Iran is acting to prevent it.

Israelis learned from this attack that the notion they could reach a modus vivendi with Hamas was false. They thought they could live with Hamas, but they have learned Israelis will die with Hamas in power. And in the coming weeks they will move to crush that organization.