The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Tuesday announced a suspension
of talks with Palestinian parties in the parliament over the formation of a new
cabinet in order to follow up an Israeli military raid on a West Bank prison
which holds top militants.
Hamas spokesman in the parliament Salah al-Bardaweil told reporters that the
meetings, originally scheduled to be held later in the day, were halted due to
the Israeli prison raid. "We have decided to suspend today's meetings to follow
up the crime Israel is committing in the Jericho prison," al-Bardaweil said.
Earlier in the day, Israeli forces stormed Jericho's main prison, demanding
the surrender of six Palestinian militants jailed there, including Ahmed Saadat,
leader of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Saadat, along the other five militants, was accused by Israel of being
involved in the 2001 killing of an Israeli minister. Earlier, Hamas
premier-designate Ismail Haneya warned Israel against harming Saadat, calling on
the international community to interfere and stop the Israeli operation.
