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| By: Israel Insider staff and partners |
| Published: December 18, 2005 |
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Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom has warned that a victory of the Islamic Hamas party in Palestinian parliamentary elections on Jan. 25 will set the region back 50 years.
In comments broadcast Saturday, Shalom said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas must keep Hamas from participating in elections since the group has carried out numerous deadly attacks against Israel.
"The participation of Hamas in the elections can put us back 50 years," Shalom told Israel Radio. "Today is the time is to make the tough decision, the strategic decision, to dismantle the terror infrastructure, to go to elections with the intent of afterward going to peace with Israel."
Hamas swept municipal elections this week in several locales in Judea and Samaria, reflecting Palestinian dissatisfaction with the ruling Fatah Party that many view as autocratic and corrupt. Fatah has lead the Palestinian people for four decades.
Hamas has carried out several suicide bombings in Israel during more than five years of fighting. While the party has agreed in recent months to a cease-fire, it's charter calls for Israel's destruction.
The Palestinian territories are in danger of becoming "Hamastan" if Hamas does well in the elections, Shalom said.
Shalom labeled as "very important" a decision Friday by the U.S. House of Representatives that the Palestinian Authority risks losing U.S. financial aid and other support if it permits Hamas to participate in the parliamentary elections. The United States includes Hamas on its list of terror organizations.
Foreign Ministry officials said Friday that if Hamas were to become a dominant force in the Palestinian leadership, it would mean an end to the peace process.
The AP contributed to this report. |
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