What if Hamas Wins?
By KARIN LAUB Associated Press Writer
=A9 2006 The Associated Press
JERUSALEM - Israel, the United States and the international community
are bracing for the possibility of a Hamas victory in the Palestinian
parliamentary election Wednesday. Here is a rundown of what could
happen if the Islamic militant group wins.
Q: Can it win?
A: Polls indicate that Hamas and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas'
Fatah movement are running neck-and-neck. Since nine smaller parties
are also competing, it's possible that neither Hamas nor Fatah will win
an absolute majority _ or 67 of 132 seats.
Q: What happens if Hamas wins the largest number of seats?
A: Under Palestinian law, the party that wins the most seats would be
asked to form a government. However, Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas ideologue and
parliament candidate, said Monday the group does not want to govern
alone under any circumstances and would seek to form a coalition,
preferably with Fatah.
Q: What role would Hamas seek in such a government?
A: Hamas wants the service ministries, such as health, education and
welfare, and would be content to let Abbas handle contacts with Israel,
including negotiations. In recent days, Hamas leaders have sent mixed
signals, saying they do not rule out talks with Israel, but attach
conditions and say they expect little from such negotiations. Hamad
said that in a Hamas-Fatah coalition, his group would want to have some
say on future negotiations with Israel, but suggested it would not veto
Abbas' moves.
Q: Would Israel and the international community deal with a Palestinian
government that includes Cabinet ministers from Hamas?
A: Israel, the U.S. and the international community are still trying to
come up with an approach. In Israel, disagreements have emerged, with
one top security official saying privately that Israel should engage
Hamas in hopes of moving the group in a more moderate direction.
However, the official line is that Israel will continue boycotting
Hamas until it disarms and renounces its call for Israel's destruction.
U=2ES. officials they will not deal directly with Hamas members of a
Palestinian government, but suggest Washington would not shun the
entire government. The U.S. and EU have said some foreign aid to the
Palestinian Authority would be in jeopardy if Hamas joins the
government. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Monday that Britain
would not talk to Hamas unless it renounces terrorism.
Q: Would Fatah agree to become a junior partner in a Hamas-run
coalition?
A: Abbas said in a recent interview that he would resign if he cannot
pursue his policy of negotiating with Israel after the election. It is
unlikely Fatah would join Hamas unless it won assurances the Islamic
group would not block Abbas' peace moves.
Q: Will Hamas agree to disarm, as required under the U.S.-backed road
map peace plan?
A: No. Hamas, which is pledged to Israel's destruction, says it will
not dissolve its armed wing until Israel's occupation has ended. But it
does not make it clear what territories it considers occupied _ just
the West Bank and Gaza, or Israel itself as well.
Q: Will Hamas continue observing an informal truce with Israel, in
effect since February?
A: Hamas leaders insist the group has the right to resist Israeli
occupation, but it is widely expected that Hamas will continue
observing the cease-fire as it tries to win greater political
legitimacy.
Q: If Fatah emerges as the largest party and forms the government,
would it bring Hamas into a coalition?
A: Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath said this week that
Fatah's first choice as a coalition partner are the smaller independent
parties. However, if such a coalition is too shaky, Fatah might seek
Hamas as a partner, but only if an agreement on future peace moves is
reached.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
Subscribe for less than 30 cents a day!
Copyright Notice & Privacy Policy | Help | Report a Problem | Site Map
| Advertise| Place an ad
.
|
