israel and the founding of hamas

[bricolage]

I've seen people write places that Israel was complicit in the founding/initial growth of Hamas and encouraged it as a way to destabilise Fatah/PLO. Is there any truth to this?

[Captain Ahab]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123275572295011847.html

Israel like the US breeds its future troubles.

[Let's Get Free]

I would say that Israel created the Hamas by destroying the secular PLO, which was calling for settlements and negotiations. Since that was the last thing Israel and the U.S. wanted, they destroyed them. But they didn't disappear, they turned to religious fundamentalism instead.