Israel, PA haggle over Hamas election bid

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By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
August 26, 2005

In a flagrant breach of the peace-making agreement the Palestinian Authority has signed with Israel, PA ?president? Mahmoud Abbas told a French newspaper Thursday he would not prevent the Hamas terrorist organization from participating in upcoming ?Palestinian? elections.

?We believe in the principles of democracy. So if we want to build a democracy, we must accept the consequences of democracy? by allowing everyone to participate, Abbas told La Liberation.

Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni responded Friday morning by saying Hamas must not be allowed to run for the Palestinian Legislative Council without first renouncing its policy of murdering Israeli Jews as a political and religious tactic.

Israel's Interim Agreement with the Palestinian Authority (or ?Oslo II?) forbids the ?nomination of any candidates, parties or coalitions? that ?commit or advocate racism? or ?pursue the implementation of their aims by unlawful or non-democratic means.? (Annex II, Article II)

The PLC election scheduled for January 21, 2006 would be the first Hamas had participated in. The group is expected to make a strong showing.

Hamas' participation in internationally-backed elections would lend a degree of legitimacy to the terror group that would be nearly impossible to erase, Israeli legal experts have warned.

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