Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, whose former activities in security include attempts to eliminate terrorist leader Naif Hawatmeh, said Sunday that the government has no choice but to remove his name from the security establishment's "wanted list."

"If we do not change the change the list of wanted terrorists and release prisoners, we cannot help Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas [to prevent] Hamas from taking control of Judea and Samaria," he told Army Radio.