Hamas makes first parliamentary appointments
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-16 11:09

Hamas made its first parliamentary appointments on Wednesday as Israel prepared to decide on its strategy toward the Palestinians after the Islamic militant group takes up the reins of power.

Hamas named Mahmoud al-Zahar from Gaza, one of its most hardline leaders, as head of its majority faction in the legislature, which convenes on Saturday for its first session since the group won the January 25 Palestinian election.

Palestinian supporters of the Islamic movement Hamas take part in a rally at the Islamic University of Gaza City, 01 February. The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to withhold direct US foreign aid from the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas revokes its call for the destruction of Israel.[AFP]

Aziz Dweik, from the West Bank, was chosen by Hamas as parliamentary speaker.

As the leader of parliament, Dweik would become interim president, pending an election within 60 days, in the event of the death, resignation or incapacitation of President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah faction.

The appointments raised speculation Hamas would choose another of its leaders, Ismail Haniyeh, as prime minister. A Gazan, he is viewed by Palestinians as a pragmatist who has forged good relations with rival factions.

Hamas officials have said they expect the group to announce its choice for the post as early as Saturday or Sunday, after parliament convenes and before Israel holds its own election on March 28.

With the clock ticking toward formation of a Palestinian government, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni summoned advisers for consultations that one official said would focus on "funding for the Palestinian Authority in the Hamas era."

Israeli officials have said Israel is trying to persuade donor nations to cut off support for the Palestinian Authority once a parliament dominated by Hamas is sworn in. Hamas's charter calls for Israel's destruction.

After the meeting led by Livni, Israel Radio said citing political sources that the government would likely allow funds to continue reaching humanitarian groups in Palestinian areas.

ISOLATION

The United States and Israel hope to isolate a Palestinian government headed by Hamas financially and diplomatically to pressure it to renounce violence, recognize the Jewish state and honor interim peace agreements, U.S. and Israeli officials say.

"You can call it isolation, you can call it a boycott, but you can also call it reality," Israeli President Moshe Katsav told reporters in Athens. "We cannot renegotiate that which is already agreed."

Katsav criticized Russia's invitation to hold talks with Hamas, saying it "erodes the position of the international community."

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it was a realistic way to foster future peacemaking. "Unless we engage Hamas, which gained power as result of legitimate, free and fair elections, nothing will change," he said in Vienna.

Palestinians receive about $1 billion a year from all donors and the Palestinian Authority requires at least $100 million a month. Palestinian officials have said they expect Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Arab states to boost the amount of support they provide to the authority in the coming months.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz planned to convene his advisers on Thursday to discuss security policy toward the Palestinians with Hamas in the government.

Hamas has masterminded nearly 60 suicide bombings against Israelis since a Palestinian uprising began in 2000, but has largely adhered to a truce declared last March.

Israeli security sources said proposals could include a tightening of travel restrictions for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, where Israel is building a barrier it says is vital to its security and the World Court has deemed illegal.

In a posting on a Hamas Web site, the group's armed wing, Izz el-Deen al-Qassam, said its fighters had received funding and training from the Iranian-backed Hizbollah movement in Lebanon, a link long denied by Hamas leaders.

A Hamas spokesman in Gaza declined to comment on the information on the site, www.info@alqassam.ws.

There was no immediate comment from Hizbollah in Beirut on the alleged funding, which the Internet site said had helped Hamas establish its first cell in the West Bank after the start of a Palestinian uprising in 2000.