Leader likely to cut ties to Israel

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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar has proposed a dramatic shift of Palestinian policy -- ending security cooperation with Israel, cutting most trade links with the Jewish state and refusing to engage with the "Christian-Zionist" U.S. administration.

"We have to go away from Israel and move toward all possible linkages with our Arab and Islamic brothers," he told The Washington Times just days before his militant movement's stunning election victory.

"Cooperation [with Israel] on the security and economic fields was a disaster for the Palestinians," he said

Although he promised last night to invite Fatah and independent candidates to participate in a broad-based government, Mr. Zahar -- the highest-ranking Hamas official in the Palestinian territories -- gave no indication that the electoral success had softened his views.

"Resistance is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people, and we will not abandon it. There is no contraction between resistance and entering the legislative council," he told reporters at his party's Gaza City headquarters.

Mr. Zahar said Hamas would extend its year-old truce if Israel reciprocates.

"If not, then I think we will have no option but to protect our people and our land," he said.

Another Hamas official, speaking to The Washington Times on the third floor of the group's eerily unfinished offices in central Gaza City last night, warned that the group's year-old cease-fire with Israel would not last forever.

"We have declared a cease-fire, but the occupation didn't appreciate it," he said. "A one-sided cease-fire is not useful."

During the earlier interview, Mr. Zahar -- who was nearly killed when an Israeli bombing raid destroyed his home two years ago -- spoke in firm, quiet tones in strongly accented but clear English.