Shalom: Ban Hamas from elections
FM says Israel should have unified stance calling on the PA to ban terror group from elections in January
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Sunday urged the Israeli government to reach a decision calling on the Palestinian Authority to prevent Hamas from participating in the upcoming general elections.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon backed Shalom’s demand during Sunday’s cabinet meeting, stating that a decision on the matter will be reached during a meeting of the security cabinet.
“They should not offer the terror group any relief that would allow it to make cynical use of the PA elections,” Shalom said during the meeting.
“Hamas does not aspire to replace Fatah, it aspires to destroy the Palestinian Authority. A group that opposes any deliberation with us has no future in the region. In Gaza the PA determines who may participate in the elections, but Israel must prevent Hamas’ participation in the West Bank elections,” Shalom told cabinet ministers.
Shalom said a decision on the matter must be reached prior to the European foreign ministers’ summit, scheduled to commence on Monday, adding that foreign ministers he met during the past few days have expressed their support for Israel’s stance on the subject.
“Even the Oslo accords state that terror organizations must not be permitted to participate in the democratic process for determining the PA’s future,” he said.
“Any legitimization of Hamas will allow the group to get stronger in the future – look what happened with Hizbullah in Lebanon.”
Sunday’s decision contradicts over the weekend comments voiced by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz in Washington where he told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Israel would not interfere with Palestinian elections even if Hamas candidates run for office.
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz and Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra supported Silvan Shalom’s proposal. Prime minister Sharon said during the meeting that Israel will not “cooperate with the Palestinian Authority if Hamas takes part in the elections under the current condition.”
