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|  | Abbas. Protected by IDF? Photo: AFP
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| | | | | Ayalon: Power of deterrence Photo: John Rifkin
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Ayalon: Abbas's wellbeing depends on IDF
Deputy foreign minister says army keeping PA safe by preventing Hamas takeover of West Bank
Ilana Curiel
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Saturday that Israel was helping Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas by keeping Hamas operatives from taking over the West Bank.
"He has in interest in preventing a Hamas overflow into Judea and Samaria," Ayalon said at a cultural event in Beersheba.
"Without the IDF's presence in Judea and Samaria there were serious fears regarding the wellbeing of the Palestinian Authority. I would not disregard the possibility that Hamas would take over the authority. Abbas's wellbeing depends very much on the IDF."
Ayalon also spoke of the IDF's power of deterrence on the Lebanese border. "Our policy of deterrence is not to allow Hezbollah to act against Israel. If Nasrallah dares, he knows what the significance of this is," he said. "There will be no separation between Lebanon and Hezbollah. Lebanon will be held responsible."
Regarding the diplomatic crisis between Israel and the US Ayalon said, "There is no need to fix damages in the relations between Israel and the US. It is natural for new governments to take steps in order to understand the reality."
He added that "mistakes were made", but that the US and Israel were "adjusting policies to the existing reality".
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