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Hamas presents cabinet on eve of Israel vote:Posted By: Kirk Griffin By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - The Islamic militant group Hamas presented its cabinet list and government agenda to the Palestinian parliament on Monday for a vote of confidence, vowing to resist pressure to change its basic policies.The parliament session came on the eve of elections inIsrael, where the main issue is a plan by interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to withdraw from remote Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank while expanding the largest blocs. Shunned by Israel, the United States and the European Union, Hamas inherits an aid-dependant Palestinian Authority that is on the brink of financial collapse. Hamas, which swept Palestinian elections in January, formed a government alone after failing to persuade other parties to join a coalition. "Whoever thinks economic pressure could push our government to succumb or that it could weaken the determination and the steadfastness of our proud people is mistaken," Prime minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh told parliament. "This government will lead its people toward a dignified life," he said. Haniyeh said Hamas would deal with existing peace agreements only insofar as they met the interests of the Palestinian people. "The people have the right to struggle against the (Israeli) occupation," he said. Hamas is formally committed to Israel's destruction and has given no sign it will alter its policy or disarm. Olmert's centrist Kadima party is predicted by polls to win most seats in Israel's vote. Palestinian lawmakers are expected to hold a vote of confidence on the 24-member Hamas cabinet and its policy program on Tuesday or Wednesday after debating both. Approval should be a certainty because Hamas holds the majority of seats. Haniyeh has said the cabinet will be sworn in by Wednesday. The Palestinian parliament met in the West Bank city of Ramallah as well as in Gaza, where Haniyeh delivered a speech by video-link. Citing security concerns, Israel prohibited Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip from traveling to the West Bank. Hamas has carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings against Israelis since 2000, but has largely respected a ceasefire for the past year. Violence involving other factions has continued sporadically. CONFLICT Troops killed an Islamic Jihad gunman who was firing into Israel from the northern Gaza Strip on Monday. Earlier, a militant commander from another faction said he escaped an Israeli attempt to kill him in an air strike. The army said it targeted a vehicle carrying militants it said were responsible for cross-border rocket fire. Hamas lawmaker Mushi ar-Masri accused Israel of trying to "destabilize the region" before the new government took office. Israel has vowed not to deal with the new Hamas-led administration. It has already cut tax revenue transfers to the Palestinian Authority. The "Quartet" of Middle East mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- has said Hamas must recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past peace agreements or risk losing vital aid. President Mahmoud Abbas, who seeks a Palestinian state alongside Israel, has appealed for Hamas to change. The group trounced his long-dominant Fatah faction in the January polls. Abbas has said he could overrule Hamas if it blocks peacemaking and the president is empowered to fire Haniyeh, but any replacement would need to be approved by the Hamas-dominated parliament. Olmert has called the Israeli election a referendum on his "consolidation" plan, a proposal to evacuate isolated settlements in the occupied West Bank while strengthening larger enclaves if peace efforts go nowhere. "Olmert can withdraw if he wants to, but the point is that we will never recognize as definitive borders (what) he is imposing unilaterally," Haniyeh told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper. Courtesy Of: Yahoo! News The information reported above is property of Yahoo! inc. and reprinted or modified with legitimate permission. We thank Yahoo! inc. for the kind cooperation with us and other shareholders. |
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