Hamas has accused the United States and Israel of refusing to accept the result of a democratic election, following a report that the two countries were discussing means to de- stabilise and bring down a Hamas-led Palestinian administration.
An article in The New York Times, citing diplomatic sources in Jerusalem, reported that Washington and Israel intended to block funding for the Palestinian Authority in an attempt to ensure that Hamas Cabinet ministers failed and new elections were called.
After Hamas’s election victory, the US and European Union had warned the Islamist group that unless it renounced violence and recognised Israel’s right to exist they would cut funding for the Palestinian Authority.
Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas MP, said attempts to bring down a future Hamas government were hypocritical.
”This is … a rejection of the democratic process, which the Americans are calling for day and night,” he told the Associated Press. ”It’s an interference and a collective punishment of our people because they practised the democratic process in a transparent and honest way.”
A Hamas leader in Gaza, Mahmoud al-Zahar, said his party would not bow to threats. ”Those who built their structure on the basis of the Qur’an … cannot budge because of promises from America or a dollar from Europe,” he told a conference in Cairo this week. ”I wish America would cut off its aid. We do not need this satanic money.”
US officials in Israel declined to comment. Israel said it has made its position clear in demanding that Hamas meet the demands of the international community or face isolation.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Shaul Mofaz, this week described Hamas as ”another part of the ‘axis of evil’ that includes Iran, Syria, and now extends to the Palestinian Authority”.
The new Parliament, in which Hamas holds 74 of 132 seats, is to be sworn in on Saturday, but it is not known when a prime minister or government will be appointed.
On Monday the outgoing Fatah-dominated body passed legislation to boost the power of the president and Fatah leader, Mahmoud Abbas, by giving him the authority to appoint a constitutional court to veto legislation that conflicts with Palestinian basic law. Hamas said the move was unjust and it would try to overturn it.
Yehiyeh Musa, a Hamas MP, said the party had set up working groups to plan for when it takes control of key ministries. ”We are trying to bring together the cream of Palestinian professionals from Hamas and elsewhere to set up special working groups. Their job will be to create five-year plans to reverse the last 12 years of catastrophic management,” he said.
Hamas MPs have also spent the week visiting Palestinian Authority ministries, courts and police stations to reassure employees that they will not lose their jobs. Despite Hamas’s election victory, the tools of the state remain in Fatah’s hands and the two parties will need to cooperate. ”We want to give a very strong message of reconciliation. We hope to reach a real partnership,” said Musa.
Hamas officials have travelled to Egypt and Jordan to reassure their governments that the party has no interest in supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in those countries, while sending out further messages to the international community not to cut funding for the Palestinians prematurely. — Â