In a recent article in Foreign Policy Magazine, Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman states that Hamas was and remains the biggest obstacle to any solution between Israel and its neighbors.

FM Liberman asserts that by its provocative behavior over the past two months, Hamas has shown that its claim to power is based only on brute force, and that its strategy of destroying the Jewish state and the Jewish people relies on disseminating fear not just among Israelis, but also among Palestinians, who it uses as pawns and human shields in its bloody strategy.

By its use of tactics reminiscent of other radical Islamic groups in the region, it has become abundantly clear that unless Hamas is disarmed and its tools of control removed, there can be no peace and security for either Israelis or Palestinians.

Calling for a radical change to the circumstances in the Gaza Strip, FM Liberman avers that Israel fully supports a broad international effort to provide all the necessary means to rebuild the civilian infrastructure and economy in Gaza, provided there is a concerted parallel effort to prevent Hamas from rearming itself with weapons systems and rebuilding its terrorist infrastructure. FM Liberman emphasizes that allowing Hamas to rebuild its military force will prevent essential international aid from being directed to the Palestinian residents. Ultimately, FM Liberman adds, the best guarantee for rebuilding Gaza and developing its economy is demilitarization. As long as Hamas remains armed, its weapons represent the strongest and most violent veto of peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.