LibriumArcana.Games

Israel has pulled back from a policy opposing the participation of Hamas in January's Palestinian elections.
Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said it was not in Israel's interest to oppose Hamas' participation.

In September, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that his government would hinder voting in the West Bank if Hamas candidates stood in the election.

The largest and most popular militant group, Hamas has not previously contested parliamentary elections.

As far as we are concerned, Hamas must make a decision now, either to participate in politics or to continue to be a terror organisation

Tzipi Livni


In recent municipal elections, it has emerged as a serious challenger to the mainstream Fatah movement of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The group is still formally committed to the destruction of Israel and armed resistance to Israeli occupation. Hamas says it is currently observing an informal ceasefire.

Change of heart

Correspondents say that Israel may have had a change of heart because US President George Bush has failed to support its demands for a ban on the militant group taking part in the ballot.

"Israel will not help the Palestinians if Hamas takes part [in the vote], but neither will it hamper the voting in areas where Israel has control," an official in Mr Sharon's office told Reuters.

The justice minister called for foreign pressure on Hamas.

"As far as we are concerned, Hamas must make a decision now, either to participate in politics or to continue to be a terror organisation," Ms Livni told Israel Radio.

"Whoever wants the peace process to move forward should be making this demand," she said.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said any change in the Israeli position on the election was "just for public relations".

He accused Israel of hampering the vote by arresting hundreds of suspected militants, including many Hamas members, in the West Bank.