 |
 |
 |
|
|
Sharon speaks at UN. (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff and partners September 17, 2005 |
|
| |
 |
| Hamas celebrates Israeli expulsion in the former Neve Dekalim last week. (AP) |
| |
Palestinian officeans on Saturday urged Israel not to interfere in upcoming parliament elections, after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was quoted as saying he wants Hamas excluded and might withhold cooperation if the Islamic militants participate in the vote.
The election is set for January, and Hamas is expected to make a strong showing.
Sharon told The New York Times that if Hamas runs, Israel could make it difficult for Palestinians in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria (the "West Bank") to reach polling stations, by not easing travel restrictions on the day of the vote. "I don't think they (Palestinians) can have elections without our help," Sharon told the newspaper.
Hamas is responsible for dozens of deadly attacks on Israelis in the past two decades, and Hamas leaders have said since Israel's Gaza pullout this week that the group will continue to build and buy weapons and keep carrying out attacks in Israeli-controlled areas.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas hopes Hamas will eventually transform itself into a political party.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said any Israeli interference would only hurt Abbas and strengthen Hamas.
"I urge the Israelis to stay out of our elections and our internal affairs, and not to put their noses in this," Erekat said. "Our election ... will be a turning point toward political pluralism and toward maintaining law and order."
Mohammed Ghazal, a Hamas leader in the West Bank, accused Israel of acting in an undemocratic fashion.
"Israel claims that it is the democratic state in the region but in fact it fights democracy in Palestine," he said. "If we win the Palestinian election, our top priority will be rebuilding the economic and social and cultural life, rebuild what Israel has destroyed. We are not thinking of destroying Israel."
Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri told ynet that "Sharon's statement is despicable Zionist interference in an internal Palestinian issue. His words will produce the opposite result (than he intended) and only strengthen us."
The AP contributed to this report.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
