Hamas rebuffs call to join PA

GAZA - The Islamic terrorist group Hamas on Monday rebuffed an invitation to join the Palestinian cabinet, snubbing leader Mahmoud Abbas who wants a unity government to help him control Gaza after Israel's pullout.

Abbas, facing public pressure to curb growing lawlessness in Palestinian areas, last week offered a place for armed groups in his government to foster a smooth evacuation of Israeli settlers from the territory due to begin in mid-August.

"Forming a unity government at this late time will not be useful," said Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri.

He said Hamas had not yet made a formal decision, but considered the invitation a ploy to avoid a commitment to hold quick elections for parliament in which Hamas is poised to mount a serious challenge to Abbas's Fatah movement.

Bringing in Hamas, a grassroots Islamist faction commanding considerable sway in the Gaza Strip, would help Abbas keep order during the pullout and avoid a security vacuum afterwards.

Violence hinders cease-fire

It would also help ensure that Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, remains committed to a truce that Abbas agreed with Israel in February by giving it a stake in decision-making.

Resurgent violence has frayed the ceaseifire in recent weeks. Israel is concerned that Hamas will try to seize control of Gaza after its planned evacuation of all 21 Jewish settlements there and four of 120 in the West Bank. It has vowed not to allow the pullout to proceed under fire.

Hamas's popularity has grown since the start of a Palestinian uprising in 2000, especially in Gaza where it made a strong showing in municipal elections earlier this year. Support for the ruling party has shrunk because of a public perception of corruption and infighting inside the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority government, which has also struggled to maintain law and order.