Israel claimed that the Palestinian Hamas movement was planning to establish a rocket base in southern Lebanon to use it in case a new war erupts against the Gaza Strip. The base would be used to fire rockets against Israel from Lebanon in order to ease the pressure off the coastal enclave, claimed Israel circles. Security sources in Tel Aviv said that the plan was exposed in wake of last year’s failed assassination attempt against Mohammed Abou Hamza Hamdan, the brother of Hamas representative in Lebanon Osama Hamadan. Mohammed escaped a car bombing in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. Western intelligence sources said Sunday that Hamas had built the base in southern Lebanon without “Hezbollah’s” knowledge. “The movement exerted a lot of efforts to hide the presence of the base from ‘Hezbollah’,” the sources said. They added that it was discovered only after the failed assassination attempt against the Hamas official. “Hezbollah” did not like what had taken place without its knowledge and it interpreted Hamas’ actions as an attempt to lure it into a war with Israel, they continued. According to Israel, “Hezbollah” and Hamas traded strong accusations against each other in wake of the discovery of the military base. The sources added that “Hezbollah” officials, including party Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, had informed Hamas leaders that they would not accept another violation of their standing in the South. The “Hezbollah” officials also told members of the movement that any plan or action directed against Israel from Lebanon should first receive the party’s approval.