Sa'id Siyam, the Palestinian Authority's interior minister, essentially closed the door on one of the critical aspects of the Oslo Accords - the very agreement that created the Palestinian Authority in 1993.
Responsible for the Palestinian Authority's military organs in the framework of his position, Siyam told AFP that the cooperation with Israel that Fatah implemented is no longer acceptable to the new Hamas government, and that Hamas will no longer arrest terrorists.
"This is essentially an open invitation to find safe refuge within the Palestinian Authority," writes Arab affairs-analyst Dalit HaLevy.
Siyam said that Hamas would no longer exchange security information with Israel, nor make arrests based on Israeli intelligence. Even Al-Qaeda terrorists are now officially welcome into PA-controlled areas, HaLevy explains.
As Hamas becomes a terrorist state and repudiates the agreements previously signed with Israel, Army Radio reports that France has been holding low-level talks with Hamas over the past few weeks, and that concern is growing that India, Japan and China will soon publicly recognize the terrorist organization. The United States, on the other hand, continues to reiterate its refusal to recognize the terrorist organization it outlawed several years ago. The European Union has also outlawed Hamas, and Canada recently cut off funding to the PA.
Siyam said that Hamas would not hurt its own interests by refusing to talk with Israel on non-security matters. "We will continue to have contacts on daily matters such as health, agriculture and commerce," he said.
Siyam's belligerent statement was moderate in comparison with statements he made upon taking office last week. He said then that not only would he not order the arrest of terrorists who attacked Israel, but that Hamas would try to coordinate all military activity against Israel. He even appointed an Al-Aksa Brigades terrorist commander, Abu Hilal, as his ministry's spokesman.
Responsible for the Palestinian Authority's military organs in the framework of his position, Siyam told AFP that the cooperation with Israel that Fatah implemented is no longer acceptable to the new Hamas government, and that Hamas will no longer arrest terrorists.
"This is essentially an open invitation to find safe refuge within the Palestinian Authority," writes Arab affairs-analyst Dalit HaLevy.
Siyam said that Hamas would no longer exchange security information with Israel, nor make arrests based on Israeli intelligence. Even Al-Qaeda terrorists are now officially welcome into PA-controlled areas, HaLevy explains.
As Hamas becomes a terrorist state and repudiates the agreements previously signed with Israel, Army Radio reports that France has been holding low-level talks with Hamas over the past few weeks, and that concern is growing that India, Japan and China will soon publicly recognize the terrorist organization. The United States, on the other hand, continues to reiterate its refusal to recognize the terrorist organization it outlawed several years ago. The European Union has also outlawed Hamas, and Canada recently cut off funding to the PA.
Siyam said that Hamas would not hurt its own interests by refusing to talk with Israel on non-security matters. "We will continue to have contacts on daily matters such as health, agriculture and commerce," he said.
Siyam's belligerent statement was moderate in comparison with statements he made upon taking office last week. He said then that not only would he not order the arrest of terrorists who attacked Israel, but that Hamas would try to coordinate all military activity against Israel. He even appointed an Al-Aksa Brigades terrorist commander, Abu Hilal, as his ministry's spokesman.