 |
 |
 |
|
|
The spokesman of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem Atallah Hanna, left, meets the Islamic group Hamas' new parliament member Mohammed Abu Teir before a press conference in Jerusalem, Thursday. (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff and partners February 16, 2006 |
|
| |
 |
| An election poster for Likud: "Strong Against Hamas: Only Likud, Netanyahu" (www.likud.org.il) |
| |
The Islamic militant group Hamas on Wednesday said it will put together the next Palestinian government by early March, timing that could help Israeli hawks win back lost support as they head into parliamentary elections.
Hamas officials said the group would stack top government positions with its own people, threatening to trigger an Israeli boycott of the Palestinian Authority. In a preliminary move, Hamas nominated three members for senior legislative posts, including the powerful position of parliament speaker.
Hamas, which calls for the elimination of Israel, trounced Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party in legislative elections last month. With a solid majority of seats in the incoming parliament, Hamas is poised to form a new Cabinet in the coming weeks, severely impeding Abbas' ability to pursue peace talks with Israel. The new Hamas-led parliament is to hold its first session Saturday.
Israeli leaders have taken a tough stance toward Hamas, ruling out any talks with the group until it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and accepts existing agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the front-runner in the election, said this week that "all contacts" with the Palestinians will be reviewed once Hamas takes office. He also has threatened to cut off monthly transfers of about $50 million in tax money to the cash-starved Palestinian government.
Top Israeli officials, led by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, held the first of a series of meetings to discuss future policy for dealing with Hamas. Wednesday night's talks touched on tax transfers and other financial issues, and the trend is to stop all but humanitarian funding, officials said. Further talks are scheduled in the coming days, they said.
An Israeli newspaper quoted Israel's defense minister, Shaul Mofaz, as saying Israel wouldn't deal with the Palestinians at all if Hamas taps its own people to serve as prime minister and parliament speaker.
Mofaz told the Yediot Ahronot newspaper that if the two posts are filled by Hamas people, "we will not hold any talks with them."
Hamas' unexpected rise to power, and its continuing refusal to renounce violence has shaken up the campaign for March 28 Israeli elections.
Hamas' official rise to power could benefit right-wing parties like Likud, which takes a hard line against the Palestinians. The party's election slogans stress that only it can stand up to the Islamic militants.
In a TV interview Wednesday, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to rally international opposition to Hamas. "It is part of an international obstacle. We need to ensure our future with an experienced and responsible leadership that knows the job," he told Channel 2 TV.
A poll published Wednesday showed Kadima holding steady with more than twice as many seats as either of its main rivals - Likud or the moderate Labor.
There had been indications that Hamas would wait until after Israel's parliamentary elections to appoint a Cabinet. In the face of Israeli pressure, there has also been widespread speculation that Hamas might turn to independent candidates for top political posts.
But on Wednesday, Ismail Haniyeh, widely seen as Hamas' top candidate for prime minister, said a Cabinet would be in place around early March.
Hamas picked members to three senior parliamentary posts, including the sensitive position of parliament speaker. In addition to his legislative powers, the speaker steps in as caretaker president if the elected head of the Palestinian Authority dies.
Abdel Aziz Duaik, a geography professor from the West Bank and the incoming speaker, said that once the new government is formed, Hamas would formulate its own peace plan, with a long-term truce with Israel as a centerpiece.
"I hope that after establishing the government ... we will sit down and have our own peace initiative," he said. "The truce will be at the top of this initiative."
Israeli officials have been cool to the idea of a truce, insisting that Hamas disarm in order to join the diplomatic process.
Katsav: Putin invitation could encourage Hamas' hardline stance
Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to Hamas leaders for talks in Moscow could encourage the Palestinian militant group's hardline approach to Israel, the country's president said Wednesday.
"There should not be any erosion in the approach of the international community (regarding Hamas)," Moshe Katsav told journalists in Athens.
Russia broke ranks with the West with the invitation for talks this month aimed at persuading the radical group to moderate its stance.
"This invitation will maybe encourage Hamas not to change their policy," Katsav said.
Katsav, who started a three-day official visit to Greece on Tuesday, denied that Israel was applying pressure for the international isolation of the Palestinian authority.
"We have no intention to boycott Hamas," he said. "If Hamas will continue the policies of the previous administration ... we are ready to negotiate with the Hamas administration. If they will not change their policy, reality will not permit us really to negotiate seriously ... It is not a question of isolation."
Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings, is set to take power within weeks after its victory in the Jan. 25 elections.
But Katsav - the first Israeli head of state to visit Greece - said peace is still possible.
"I believe that the political gap between the Palestinian authority and the Israeli government never was as small as it is now," Katsav said. "If they stop terrorism I believe the chance of peace and reconciliation is very high."
Katsav added that the Israeli election in March would not lead to a policy change toward the Palestinians.
"I believe that the result of the election in Israel will not express a different approach of Israeli society toward the Palestinian people," he said. "I believe Israel will continue to be committed to the road map after the election."
The Israeli president also charged that al-Qaida members have infiltrated the Gaza strip since Israel's withdrawal.
"Al-Qaida started activity from the Gaza strip lately," he said, without elaborating.
On Thursday, Katsav and Greek President Karolos Papoulias plan to fly to the northern city of Thessaloniki to visit a memorial to more than 70,000 Greek Jews who died in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
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.
|
|
| |
|
|
