The Palestinian leader has invited the rival Hamas group, listed by the West as a terrorist organization, into his Cabinet to ensure a smooth transition in the Gaza Strip after the planned Israeli withdrawal, a Hamas spokesman said Friday. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the presence of Hamas in a Palestinian government was unacceptable and would hurt efforts to reach a peace deal.Hamas is considering the offer, a senior Hamas official said on condition of anonymity because no decision has been made. The Islamic group's leadership in Gaza and abroad will have the final say on whether to join the Palestinian government, he said. Hamas is sworn to the destruction of Israel and responsible for most suicide bombings during the last four years. Both Israel and the United States have demanded that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas disarm the militants, including Hamas. But Abbas, a weak leader, cannot ignore Hamas' strong grass-roots presence in Gaza or the group's demand to help rule the area after Israel's pullout in August. He has chosen to try to co-opt his militant rivals rather than confront them.
"Hamas is a murderous terrorist organization responsible for countless acts of senseless violence against innocent civilians," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev told The Associated Press. "Hamas is no partner for us in any sort of political process. They are part of the problem, not part of the solution." Abbas made his offer this week after Hamas demanded a special committee be formed to oversee the transfer of powers in Gaza after Israel withdraws. Abbas rejected that demand, inviting Hamas to join his Cabinet instead, the official said.