Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalaom expected that Palestinians will postpone the general elections slated for 25th pf January 2006. Quoted on Sunday, Shalom said that "some Palestinian groups are exploiting the illness of Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to postpone the elections."
Shalom believes that Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas' will postpone the elections because of the chaos in the Palestinian territories, adding that "Abbas might allege the non-participation of Jerusalem citizens for the delay of the elections."
Meanwhile, Hamas would not hold any negotiations whatsoever with the Israeli occupation, affirmed Sheikh Ismail Haneyya, one of the Movement's key leaders in the Gaza Strip. Speaking at an election rally Hamas held Saturday in Khan Younis, Haneyya said, "We won't negotiate with the Israeli occupation except through rifle muzzles."
"Hamas would present political action and new political discourse far more different from those some had used to understand. And if our enemies used to get concessions from the Arabs and Palestinians, we would differently introduce a new political action based on rejecting concessions and adhering to principles and constants," he stressed.
