Since 1947, a variety of changes have taken place in the Israeli-Arab conflict in the Middle East. Israel faced Arab state enemies until 1982 and since then it has been dealing with non-state Organizations. The new period created a variety of threats for Israel. Those threats are no longer considered an existential threat but continue to erode the peace process and the regional stability instead. After a long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, an opportunity for peace was created. The Oslo I Accord was signed and created a diplomatic dialogue between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Fatah), as well as a new entity, the Palestinian Authority (PA). Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) on the other hand, was able to disrupt the peace process and become more relevant in Palestinian politics. The struggle between Fatah and Hamas created a two-headed leadership for the Palestinian people, Fatah in the West Bank, and the Hamas in Gaza Strip. In order to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians, Israel now has to deal with two separate entities. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the options available to Israel in dealing with Hamas while trying to assess each alternative's effectiveness.

Master of Military Art and Science Theses