Israel drove suitcases stuffed with cash into Gaza to keep Hamas in power
Israeli officials are facing backlash after years of Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu quietly allowing Hamas to remain in power.
But reporting in the New York Times has revealed that Netanyahu's government was more hands-on about helping Hamas: they helped a Qatari diplomat bring suitcases of cash into Gaza, indirectly boosting the militant organization, according to the report.
The calculus — the Times reported on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Netanyahu's critics, and the man's own reported statements — was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, allowing Netanyahu to avoid a two-state peace solution and keep both sides weak.
Israeli security officials got it wrong; they didn't think Hamas was capable, or even interested, in launching a large attack against the Jewish state.
As I understand it, one Lehi leader (Yitzhak Shamir) went on to become Israel's PM for two terms. He also approved the assassination of Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat working to negotiate peace in the region.
It's clear they had influence in post-WW2 Israel.
They sure did, they tried to rehabilitate them. Yithzak Rabin was part of a terrorist group as well, went on to serve as PM for two terms, and was assassinated for working towards a two state solution...
Who? The Palmach? At least they didn't try to ally with the Nazis like Lehi.
... Or the arab Palestinians