Israeli official says Hamas favors truce

JERUSALEM, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Most Hamas leaders want to continue a cease-fire with Israel over the short term but the military wing is against it, a former Israeli security official says.

Continuing the cease-fire would allow Hamas to achieve its other political goals but Hamas military leaders want to abandon it altogether, the unnamed former Shin Bet security deputy chief wrote in an article published on a U.S. Web site, Haaretz reported.

"The truce promotes Hamas' interests by buying time to advance the movement's short- and long-term goals," he said, adding that Hamas' main goal is "the complete control of the Gaza Strip."