(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - Israel has launched a diplomatic campaign against Hamas's involvement in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections unless it disarms. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told visiting Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, as well as Egyptian leaders two weeks ago, that Hamas can't claim to be a political party and run in the elections while at the same time maintaining a military arm. Israeli diplomatic officials have said there is concern that Hamas will follow the Hizballah model, and become very active in the political process while at the same time continuing to engage in terror. There is concern in Jerusalem that a politically powerful Hamas will strengthen calls in Europe to remove it from the terror list because it is now a political party.
2005-05-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive