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Hamas captures landslide parliamentary win
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-27 06:07 Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Israel will insist
that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, popularly known as Abu Mazen, keep his
commitments to disarm militants.
Palestinian gunmen
from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement fire into the air
next to Abbas' home in Gaza January 27, 2006. Hundreds of gunmen from
Abbas' Fatah movement, angry at a legislative election victory by Hamas
Islamists, marched in Gaza City on Friday and called on party officials to
resign. [Reuters] |
"Israel needs to act judiciously and responsibly," Mofaz said. "We will
continue to demand of Abu Mazen to meet his commitments and to disarm the terror
organizations."
Mofaz said that the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, which calls for the
creation of a Palestinian state, is the "only existing path."
Other Israeli politicians from across the political spectrum said there could
be no relations with a group that has been responsible for scores of deadly
attacks against Israelis and is listed as a terror organization by the United
States and the European Union.
Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the opposition Likud Party, condemned the vote.
"Today Hamastan was formed," he said. Labor Party politician Ami Ayalon said
Israel might have to change the route of its West Bank security barrier to take
Hamas' victory into account.
In a televised speech Thursday night, Abbas suggested that future
negotiations with Israel be conducted through the Palestine Liberation
Organization, a possible bypass of a Hamas-led government.
"We are going to reactivate the role of the PLO," said Abbas, who was elected
separately a year ago and remains president of the Palestinian Authority as well
as head of the PLO.
The PLO was founded as the umbrella group of Palestinian organizations
several decades ago, but its importance has withered since the establishment of
the Palestinian Authority in 1994.
He has said he would resign if he could no longer pursue his peace agenda.
The Cabinet and legislature must approve any major initiative by Abbas, giving
Hamas tremendous influence over peace moves.
Abbas also said he would begin immediate consultations to form a new
government but did not specifically refer to Hamas' sweeping election victory.
He said he remained committed to previous peace deals and the "road map."
"I am committed to implementing program on which you elected me a year ago,"
he said. "It is a program based on negotiations and peaceful settlement with
Israel."
Hamas' exiled supreme leader, Khaled Mashaal, called Abbas from Syria to
discuss the results. "He stressed Hamas insists on a partnership with all the
Palestinian factions, especially our brothers in Fatah," Hamas said on its Web
site.
In a first sign of pragmatism, Mahmoud Zahar, a top Hamas official, said the
group would extend its year-old truce if Israel reciprocates. "If not, then I
think we will have no option but to protect our people and our land," he told
Associated Press Television News.
Bush said the United States will not deal with Palestinian leaders who
dispute Israel's right to exist.
"If your platform is the destruction of Israel, it means you're not a partner
in peace, and we're interested in peace," Bush said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and his Cabinet resigned even before
the election results were announced.
Fatah legislator Saeb Erekat, who led Palestinians in negotiations with
Israel, said the party does not want to join a Hamas government. "We will be a
loyal opposition and rebuild the party," Erekat said, after meeting with Abbas.
But Nabil Shaath, another senior Fatah lawmaker, said the party's leadership
would make a decision later Thursday.
Leaders around the world were shocked by Hamas' victory, with Italian Premier
Silvio Berlusconi reportedly calling it a "very, very, very bad result," and
others insisting Hamas give up violence and recognize Israel's right to exist.
"You cannot have one foot in politics and another in terror," Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice said.
Hamas capitalized on widespread discontent with years of Fatah corruption and
ineffectiveness. Much of its campaign focused on internal Palestinian issues,
while playing down the conflict with Israel.
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