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Hamas takes reins of parliament

Hamas leader and lawmaker Ahmed Bahar, right, proposes himself for election of the deputy speaker during the first session of the new Palestinian parliament Saturday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Dion Nissenbaum Knight Ridder
Hamas leader and lawmaker Ahmed Bahar, right, proposes himself for election of the deputy speaker during the first session of the new Palestinian parliament Saturday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – With supporters shouting “God is great,” Hamas took control of the Palestinian parliament on Saturday. Hamas offered to compromise with its defeated political rivals but maintained a defiant stand toward its nemesis, Israel.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah party urged Hamas to accept negotiations with Israel as the “sole political, pragmatic and strategic choice” Palestinians have in their struggle to create a state.

Hamas leaders, who have long denounced deals with Israel, greeted the president’s speech with polite applause, but made it clear that they have a different agenda than that of Abbas, who’s also known as Abu Mazen.

“Abu Mazen was elected for his political platform, and we were elected for our political platform,” said Ismail Haniyeh, the new Gaza City lawmaker expected to become the next prime minister. “This is the point of difference between us. However, these differences will be resolved through dialogue.”

“We are not accepting Israel,” top Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said during a break in Saturday’s session. “Hamas will be the same Hamas. We are going to implement our agenda.”

Hamas seeks the destruction of Israel. As it works to form a new government over the next few weeks, Hamas will face the prospect of economic isolation if it refuses to renounce terrorism, embrace previous deals with Israel and formally accept Israel’s right to live side by side with a new Palestinian state.

Israel, the United States and European countries have warned that they will cut off direct financial aid to the Palestinian Authority if Hamas doesn’t meet these demands.

Hamas lawmakers sought to downplay the potential economic stranglehold and said that they have received assurances from nearby Arab and Muslim nations that they will step in to help.

“The tasks that await you are large, very large indeed,” said Abbas said in his speech. He told Hamas lawmakers that they had created “a new political reality” with their electoral victory in last month’s legislative election.

Hamas won 74 of 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council and ended decades of domination by the late Yasser Arafat’s Fatah party. The stronger-than-expected victory gives Hamas heavy leverage in battles with Abbas.