Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman has learned that Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office has received hints to this effect. One proposal is to inform Abu Mazen that if he does not include Hamas representatives in his Cabinet, the United States will not cut off its support and ties with the PA - even if Hamas does well in the upcoming elections.
As the Jan. 25th elections for the Palestinian Authority's legislature (PLC) approach, it is becoming clear that Hamas will, in fact, win a significant amount of seats. Some estimates are that Hamas will receive up to 40% of the vote, mainly at the expense of Fatah, the main PLO organization headed originally by Yasser Arafat and now by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).
Bush Administration officials have made clear, over the past weeks, their displeasure with Hamas and its participation in the election, but always stopped short of demanding that the PA ban Hamas from taking part. State Department spokesman repeatedly said that though Hamas is an outlawed terrorist organization, its participation in PA elections is a "local" issue.
Similarly, the U.S. pressured Israel into toning down its own opposition. Now, with a strong Hamas showing imminent, the U.S. is faced with dealing with the fruits of this approach.
Just four weeks ago, 73 U.S. Senators signed a letter to President George W. Bush recommending a reassessment of American ties with the PA in the event that Hamas is integrated into the PA leadership. The letter stated, "If terrorist groups achieve significant presence in the Palestinian legislature, it will be much harder, if not impossible, to achieve any type of progress in the Road Map..."
The letter followed by a few days a House of Representatives resolution, passed by a 397-17 vote, warning the Palestinian Authority that it could face a cut in U.S. aid if it does not require Hamas and other terrorist organizations to disarm. The resolution also urged the PA not to allow a still-armed Hamas terror organization to run in the election.
Israel understood that the letter and the resolution rule out U.S. cooperation with the PA in the event that Hamas is elected to the PA legislature. Now, however, Huberman reports, Israel has room to fear that the Bush Administration will provide a new interpretation to the events. It appears that Bush and Rice will overlook a strong Hamas presence in the legislature, as long as it is not integrated into the PA government.
Two months ago, when U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice visited Israel, she said it would actually be easier to compel Hamas to disarm if it participates in the elections, because the pressure would come from the entire international community. She said that this was what had happened in northern Ireland and Angola.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon disagreed with this approach, saying at the time, "If Abu Mazen does not fight terrorism now, he will be less likely to do so after the elections."
Sharon also acknowledged, "Nowhere in the world would [Hamas] be allowed to participate in elections."
Since 1989, Hamas has carried out more than 100 major terrorist attacks, killing more than 500 people; 84% of Israelis killed in these attacks have been civilians. In addition, 17 Americans have been murdered in Hamas attacks since 1993.
Excerpts from the Hamas Covenant:
“For our struggle against the Jews is extremely wide-ranging and grave, so much so that it will need all the loyal efforts we can wield, to be followed by further steps and reinforced by successive battalions from the multifarious Arab and Islamic world, until the enemies are defeated and Allah’s victory prevails.” (Introduction)
“The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinct Palestinian Movement which owes its loyalty to Allah, derives from Islam its way of life and strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.” (Article 6)
“Israel, by virtue of its being Jewish and of having a Jewish population, defies Islam and the Muslims.” (Article 28)
“I swear by that who holds in His Hands the Soul of Muhammed! I indeed wish to go to war for the sake of Allah! I will assault and kill, assault and kill, assault and kill (told by Bukhari and Muslim).” (Article 15)
“The Arab states surrounding Israel are required to open their borders to the Jihad fighters, the sons of the Arab and Islamic peoples, to enable them to play their role and to join their efforts to those of their brothers among the Muslim Brothers in Palestine.” (Article 28)
“…until the Decree of Allah is fulfilled, the ranks are over-swollen, Jihad fighters join other Jihad fighters, and all this accumulation sets out from everywhere in the Islamic world, obeying the call of duty, and intoning ‘Come on, join Jihad!” This call will tear apart the clouds in the skies and it will continue to ring until liberation is completed, the invaders are vanquished and Allah’s victory sets in.” (Article 33)
“[Peace] initiatives, the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement. For renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion.” (Article 13)
“There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by Jihad.” (Article 13)