Abbas invites militant groups into government

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has invited militant factions, including the Islamic group Hamas, to join his government before next month's Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian Authority official said yesterday.

Israel condemned the idea, which would mark the first time armed groups have been part of a Palestinian cabinet.

Israel and the United States have demanded Abbas disarm and dismantle militant organisations, as dictated by a US-backed "road map" to peace.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said his faction, which has spearheaded a suicide campaign against Israel and is sworn to its destruction, would discuss the offer and "announce its decision in suitable time."

However, Islamic Jihad leader Nafez Azzam said his group, which has also killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks, had rejected the invitation, saying it "would not take part in a Palestinian government as long as (Israeli) occupation exists."

Samir al-Mashrawi, a Palestinian Authority negotiator and top leader in Abbas's Fatah faction, said he had invited the militant groups to discuss the formation of a unity government whose prime agenda topic would be Israel's pullout plan.

"The offer was prompted by the need to have a national partnership to shoulder responsibility in this very delicate and sensitive situation," he said, adding that such a move would not affect an upcoming legislative election.

Hamas's popularity has grown during more than four years of violence, especially in Gaza, where it made a strong showing in municipal elections earlier this year. Hamas also plans to challenge Abbas's Fatah group in the coming election.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokes-man Mark Regev said Israel sees the group as "part of the problem and not as part of any sort of solution" and reiterated Israel's demand that Abbas dismantle it.

"We believe that the best way to deal with Hamas is to disarm them, delegitimise them and disqualify them," Regev said. "Mr Abbas is committed to disarming all the terrorist groups - we're hopeful that he will follow through on this commitment."

Israel is concerned Hamas will try to seize control of Gaza after its planned evacuation of all 21 Jewish settlements in the territory in August and has vowed it will not allow any pullout to occur under fire.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie announced a similar invitation last week but Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they did not respond to it because he had made his comments to reporters rather than to them directly.