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What is he going to do now? PA Chariman Mahmoud Abbas is buying time by delaying the election until he can figure out what to do with the Hamas. (AP)
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| By israelinsider staff and partners July 5, 2005 |
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Abbas' attempt co-opt Hamas into his ruling team ahead of the parliamentary elections -- a way of blunting the strength of their opposition -- indicates just how popular the terrorist group is among members of the Palestinian electorate. In the meantime, it is unclear whether Islamic Jihad will be co-opted, while PA-affiliated terrorist faction Fatah keeps its relationship with Hamas despite the groups' rejection.
Terrorist group Hamas has rejected an invitation by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to join his government, a Hamas official said.
"Tonight the Hamas leadership made a decision following deep consultations within the movement institutions, and the decision was not to participate in the proposed government," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told The Associated Press.
Abbas had invited the group to begin negotiations about participation in the government. While Israel instead demanded that Abbas disarm the terrorist faction, which has taken responsibility for dozens of suicide bombings in Israel during the last four-and-a-half years.
The Hamas decision will not harm relations between the group and Abbas' Fatah party, Zuhri said. He called for the formation of a committee of representatives of all Palestinian factions to work out a plan on how to deal with Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip later this summer.
Hamas' rejection was seen as a setback for Abbas' hopes to co-opt them into his ruling team before parliamentary elections, a way of blunting their opposition stance.
Abbas has postponed the elections, hoping to shore up support for Fatah after Hamas made significant gains in recent local elections.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia had said Sunday that talks with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group on setting up a "national unity" government would begin this week. Abbas is to meet Thursday in Damascus with Hamas leaders.
The AP contributed to this report.
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