Exiled Hamas political leader vows PA elections won't take place

The exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Mashaal, vowed Saturday that elections in the Palestinian Authority, announced earlier this month by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, would not place.

"Is it possible to speak of early elections, and the elections [previous] are still fresh? Is it possible to violate the law and the constitution?" he told the Arab satellite TV station Al Jazeera. "Any step that violates the law will not be [allowed]."

Abbas said Saturday that he opposes a Hamas proposal to offer Israel a long-term cease-fire in exchange for the creation of a Palestinian state within the pre-1967 boundary.

"The hudna [long-term cease-fire] that Hamas is proposing would defraud the Palestinian people," said Abbas.

The PA chairman said he opposes reaching an agreement with Israel on the creation of a Palestinian state within temporary borders, and called for comprehensive peace talks on all outstanding issues, including final borders, as well as the future of settlements, Jerusalem, and Palestinian refugees.

A member of the Palestinian Legislative Council from Hamas, Salah Al-Bardwil, stressed Saturday that the hudna should not be viewed as recognition of Israel. "The Palestinian people reserve their right to all of Palestine," he said.

The PA chairman also said Saturday he is willing to resume negotiations with Hamas on the formation of a unity government.

Abbas added that he expects to hold a much-anticipated summit with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert within the next two weeks, Israel Radio reported. The meeting between the two took place Saturday evening in Jerusalem, shortly after the sides announced that it was to take place.

Quartet to channel funds to Palestinians, skirting HamasThe so-called Quartet of Middle East negotiators agreed Friday to continue providing humanitarian assistance directly to Palestinian projects, bypassing the Hamas-run government.

The deal does not affect the ongoing halt by the U.S. and others on aid to the PA, which is run by the militant group.

In a statement, the Quartet - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia - said the Palestinian people are in need and encouraged donors to respond to UN and other requests for aid.

Since Hamas' election victory in January, the U.S. and its partners have provided direct assistance to various Palestinian programs, but have avoided sending money directly to the cash-starved Hamas-run government. The humanitarian aid, delivered largely by private organizations, has totaled about $450 million (-341 million) in U.S. contributions alone in the past year.

The Bush administration has shunned Hamas, which it regularly denounces as a terrorist group, and supported Mahmoud Abbas, the moderate Palestinian Chairman who is open to peacemaking with Israel.

The humanitarian aid was due to expire at the end of the year. It will be extended for three months and further extensions considered then, the State Department said.

This week, President George W. Bush signed into law a bill meant to block U.S. aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government and banning contacts with Hamas until the militant faction has renounced violence and recognized Israel's existence. The bill puts into law what already was administration policy.

	Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas pausing during a meeting in his Ramallah office on Saturday. (AP)