RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian foreign minister said yesterday that an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza could clear the way for long-delayed elections that would include the militant group Hamas — a sign that power-sharing talks could give militants an official role, despite U.S. and Israeli misgivings.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has proposed a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a smaller pullback in the West Bank in the absence of peace moves. Though the Gaza pullout is not expected for up to a year, the prospect has led to a flurry of meetings among Palestinian factions and speculation about how strong the Islamic militant group’s influence would be afterward.
Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said Palestinians are “enthusiastic” about elections after the Israelis leave.
“We hope this [withdrawal] will pave the road for a Palestinian general election with participation with Hamas,” he said.
Mr. Shaath also said that the Palestinians expect a large aid package from the United States and other donor countries to help rebuild Gaza after a pullback.
In the event of a withdrawal from Gaza, “the Americans should be ready with the World Bank and other donors to make massive economic support for the Palestinian Authority,” Mr. Shaath told Israel Radio. He did not give a sum.
Palestinians have had only one general election since the Palestinian Authority was set up in 1994. Hamas boycotted the 1996 voting, refusing to recognize the Palestinian Authority, set up in an interim peace accord with Israel.
Israel and the United States have warned against a Hamas takeover of Gaza after an Israeli pullout.
Hamas has taken responsibility for most of the suicide attacks that have killed more than 450 Israelis in 31/2 years of conflict. On March 22, Israel assassinated the leader and founder of Hamas, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, and the group pledged revenge.
Raanan Gissin, a Sharon adviser, said Hamas is a terrorist group that should not be allowed a governing role. “This is not Hamas joining the PA. This is the PA joining Hamas,” he said.
The United States has put Hamas on a list of terror organizations. “Our view is that, far from being welcomed into any partnership or cooperation, Hamas should be ostracized and disempowered as an organization,” State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said this week.
The U.S.-backed “road map” peace plan requires the Palestinians to dismantle militant groups such as Hamas, but Palestinian leaders have avoided confrontation, fearing a civil war. Israel also has ignored its initial “road map” obligation of stopping settlement construction.
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