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Sharon, Rice Discuss Hamas Election Participation

(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Sharon met Monday with U.S Secretary of State Rice in Jerusalem. Sharon emphasized that Hamas's participation in the [Palestinian] elections would be a serious mistake because the participation of an armed terrorist organization would only weaken Abu Mazen: "Hamas's participation could lead to the end of the Roadmap, if there is a situation in which an armed terrorist organization is a political partner in the Palestinian administration....We will not help those who murder Jews even if they participate in the elections. Nowhere in the world would they be allowed to participate in elections. Even according to the Oslo accords, they were not allowed to participate in elections." Only if Hamas disarms and annuls its covenant, which calls for the destruction of Israel, would Israel accept Hamas's participation in them. Rice said she believes that after the PA elections, it will be easier to compel Hamas to disarm because the pressure will come from the entire international community. She said she respects the Israeli position and added that if Abbas does not disarm Hamas, he would lose both American and international support. Rice said the U.S. would never hold contacts with Hamas or Islamic Jihad even if they are in the administration, adding that the U.S. would never countenance a situation in which terrorist organizations that remain armed take part in the Palestinian administration.
2005-11-15 00:00:00
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