Amidst real fears of Hamas' victory in the upcoming Palestinian legislative election this coming July, the Israeli premier, Ariel Sharon, was pressuring the PA chief, Mahmoud Abbas, to postpone it being the only one who can do so. Palestinian sources have revealed in statements to the London-based 'Al-Sharq Al-Awsat' newspaper that Sharon had discussed the matter with the US president, George W. Bush, during their meeting in Texas last week, and the Russian envoy to Tel Aviv, and asked both to exercise similar pressures on Abbas.Israeli sources and some Fatah members have expressed their fears of a Hamas victory in the elections and found the postponement a chance to re-arrange matters to confront the fast-growing popularity of Hamas. In an interview with the French 'Le Figaro' newspaper published on Tuesday, the Israeli first deputy premier, Shimon Peres, said that "I think we should help Abbas more, and we will do so". He warned that any Hamas victory in the election will herald an end to the peace process.