 |
 |
 |
|
|
Supporters of Hamas display copies of the Quran, as they celebrate the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian parliamentary elections. (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff and partners January 30, 2006 |
|
| |
Israel stepped up its tough talk against Hamas on Sunday, ruling out contacts with a Palestinian government led by the militant group and threatening to "liquidate" terrorists if attacks on Israeli targets resume.
Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel will stop the monthly transfer of tens of millions of dollars in tax rebates and other funds to the Palestinian Authority if a Hamas government is installed.
With the latest comments, Israel showed no signs of backing down from the hard line it has taken since Hamas won a surprising landslide victory in Palestinian legislative elections last week.
Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bomb attacks, is expected to lead the next Palestinian government, hurting the chances for a peace deal.
Also Sunday, about 7,000 Israeli security forces, anticipating violent resistance, were training to dismantle two small Judean and Samarian settlement outposts later this week, police said. Resistance is expected in Amona and among Israeli "squatters" in the Judean city of Hebron.
Israel's Supreme Court rejected a request from Jewish settlers to delay the order, clearing the way for the operation to proceed. It will mark the Israel's first evacuation of Jewish settlers since withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank last August.
Defense officials said negotiations were in progress for a voluntary exit by the settlers. Part of the deal would be to allow them to return later, once the legal situation is clarified.
Olmert, addressing the weekly meeting of his Cabinet, said he has been in touch with leaders around the world in recent days and received support for the tough Israeli stance against Hamas.
"We clarified that without a clear abandonment of the path of terror, a recognition of Israel's right to exist in security and peace ... Israel won't have any contact with the Palestinians," Olmert said. "These principles are accepted by the international community. On this issue, I don't intend to make any compromises."
Hamas refuses to disarm or recognize Israel, though it has hinted that it could reach a long-term truce or other accommodation with the Jewish state.
Olmert spoke ahead of the arrival of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was making a 24-hour visit for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. She said she would not meet with Hamas figures.
Israeli officials said its ban on contacts did not apply to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who accepts the Israeli conditions and is eager to resume peace talks. Abbas was elected to a four-year term last year and remains in power.
However, Olmert said Israel would not hand over value added tax and customs funds it collects on behalf of the Palestinians if a Hamas government is installed.
Every month Israel transfers an average of 250 million shekels ($54 million) collected at ports and border crossings. In the past Israel has held up the transfers during times of tension. A delay would cripple the cash-strapped Palestinian government.
During the Cabinet meeting, Defense Minster Shaul Mofaz said Hamas "is portraying policies of responsibility." He said the group has even tried to restrain suicide attacks by the radical Islamic Jihad group.
But earlier, Mofaz said Israel is prepared to kill Hamas targets if the group resumes its attacks.
"Those who head terror organizations and continue to engage in terror against the state of Israel will be liquidated," told Channel 2 TV on Saturday night.
During five years of fighting with the Palestinians, Israel killed dozens of Hamas militants in airstrikes, including the group's founder and spiritual leader, Ahmed Yassin.
Since a cease-fire declaration last February, Hamas has not claimed involvement in a suicide attack and Israel has not killed any of the group's leaders.
Abbas, whose Fatah Party was routed in last week's election, has asked Hamas to form a new government. Abbas must now find a way to work with the Islamists. The arrangement could potentially put Hamas in charge of some, if not all, of the Palestinian security forces.
Abbas in the past has called on Hamas to disarm, as required in the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, but never took action against the group.
Hamas' supreme leader, Khaled Mashaal, on Saturday said the group would not disarm, but suggested it could fold the thousands of fighters in its armed wing into a Palestinian army.
"We are ready to unify the weapons of Palestinian factions, with Palestinian consensus, and form an army like any independent state," he said, speaking from exile in Syria.
Israeli leaders condemned the plan, demanding an end to Hamas violence.
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.
|
|
| |
|
|
