Foreign Minister Tzippy Livny had told the Committee, "We must prevent the development of a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Authority, as that will merely increase the pressures upon Israel."
Relating to the ascent of Hamas to power in the Palestinian Authority, Livny said, "There are two possible scenarios. The first is that the international community will gradually accept the election of Hamas, explaining that it is the result of democratic elections. This would be very bad, from our standpoint."
The second possibility, Livny said, "and the one that the Bush Administration is trying to work for, is one of intensive diplomatic efforts vis-a-vis the international community, in order to bring about the de-legitimization of the entire Palestinian Authority and have it classified as a terrorist entity."
MKs Uzi Landau (Likud) and Aryeh Eldad (National Union) said afterwards that they see that Israel has no foreign policy regarding Hamas. Committee Chairman Yuval Shteinitz (Likud) aid that the government is doing nothing except for "listing the developments, instead of taking practical measures in advance to stop the formation of a Hamas government."
Livny said that the international community is supportive of the three important conditions that Israel has laid down for Hamas: the dismantling of terrorist organizations in the PA, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements with Israel.