Who Will Be Israel's Next No.1 Enemy?

CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Israel's top priority is to stop Iran from going nuclear, a fear that prompted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's trip to Europe.

But while Iran gathers ingredients and know-how for nuclear weapons, its leaders are also busy trying to build up Israel's enemies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Iran would like to do in Gaza what it did in Lebanon, where its client, Hezbollah, is now the dominant political and military force and an ongoing threat to Israel.

Israeli intelligence officials tell The London Sunday Times that Hezbollah is now stronger than it was before this summer's Israel-Hezbollah war.

So Israeli leaders were watching closely when Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh went to Teheran last week to drum up both money and support from the rulers of Iran.

Haniyeh had to cut his visit short because of growing violence in Gaza between Hamas and the Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. One Hamas leader was gunned down Wednesday after Monday's murder of three boys, the sons of a Fatah official.

The prospect of a Palestinian civil war presents yet another challenge to Israel: the end of a shaky cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza.

More than two weeks ago, Israel agreed to a cease-fire if the Palestinians would stop rocket attacks on Israel. But at least 20 rockets have been fired from Gaza since the cease-fire began.

Now the militias competing for influence may fight to see who can become Israel's number one enemy.