Former Shin Bet chief: The only way to defeat Hamas is to create a political horizon for the Palestinian people

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In a recent interview, Ami Ayalon, former head of Shin Bet (Israel's domestic security agency), and a former commander of the Israeli Navy with various governmental roles, discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Hamas.

When asked if there is a solution to the current conflict, Ayalon drew a clear distinction between the Iranian terror proxy Hamas and the Palestinian people.

“The only way to defeat Hamas,” he stated, “is to create a political horizon for the Palestinian people.”

Ayalon reflected on the period between 1993 and 2000, when Palestinians believed they were on a path to statehood alongside Israel, emphasizing: “They were willing to negotiate within the framework of the 1967 borders.”

"They had no illusions about the right of return or an armed state, but they believed that negotiations would lead to a state with a strong police force but without an army." This belief sustained hope for peace because the process appeared credible to Palestinians.

Regarding the Oslo Accords and the first intifada (uprising), Ayalon argued that when Palestinians had a vision of statehood, support for Hamas was minimal. “During Oslo, support for a political settlement was between 65% and 75% on both sides,” he noted, adding that this balance shifted when Palestinians felt Israel was not fully committed to negotiations.

Ayalon described Hamas' vision as an Islamic Palestinian state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, governed by Sharia Law. Anything less, he said, is viewed by Hamas as defeat and surrender. He compared this vision to a minority in Israel that seeks a Jewish state without prioritizing democracy, seeing compromise as a betrayal.

He also highlighted the key differences between the Fatah party, which controls the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank, and the Hamas terrorist organization. While Fatah eventually accepted the need for diplomacy and security cooperation with the State of Israel, realizing that military action would not succeed, Hamas has consistently rejected such compromises.

At the same time, the PA has shown some hostility toward Israel, including its pay-for-slay program, which rewards terrorists for carrying out attacks against Israeli citizens. A rise in terrorism emanating from the PA-controlled West Bank has caused Israeli security officials to be concerned about the possibility of a new intifada.

Furthermore, in late November 2023, the secretary-general of Fatah’s Central Committee Jibril Rajoub described the Hamas' invasion and massacre of southern Israeli communities on the Gaza border as a “defensive war” against the Jewish state, along with other officials who stated their support.

The Fatah party, run by Mahmoud Abbas, has its own terror wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.

Ayalon expressed concern about the growing support for Hamas among Palestinians and within the broader Arab and Islamic world, attributing this rise in support to the lack of a political horizon.

“As long as there is a political horizon, Hamas weakens,” he explained.

In the broader geopolitical context, Ayalon stressed the existential threat posed by Iran and the importance of building a regional coalition supported by the U.S. and Europe. Without such a coalition, he warned, any unilateral action against Iran would be perceived in the Arab world as a "third crusade, or something like that."

Concluding the interview, Ayalon offered a sobering view of the current situation: "The Israeli public no longer distinguishes between Hamas and Palestinians, and Palestinians believe we are all [like] Ben Gvir."

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir continues to be a controversial figure within the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. For example, his critics say his repeated visits to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem are seen as provocative and have heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, given the site's religious and political sensitivity.

Nonetheless, Ayalon remained cautiously optimistic, suggesting that the American-proposed settlement offers a unique opportunity. However, progress will require a long-term, phased process to restore trust and weaken Hamas' influence.