Abbas warns Hamas he can eject them from power

The Palestinian president said in an interview aired on Monday that he has the authority to remove the newly elected Hamas government from power, and warned the government that it had little choice but to negotiate with Israel.

The Palestinian president said in an interview aired on Monday that he has the authority to remove the newly elected Hamas government from power, and warned the government that it had little choice but to negotiate with Israel.

8220;The constitution gives me clear and definite authority to remove a government from power, but I don8217;t want to use this authority. Everyone should know that by law this power is in my hands,8221; Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview with CNN-Turk that was recorded before he arrived in Turkey on Sunday.

Asked about the possibility of Abbas bring down the Hamas government, a senior Hamas official in the West Bank said the group would 8220;not leave in silence8221; and threatened to stop recognising a truce with Israel.

8220;We will go, but we will not recognise the Palestinian political regime. We will not participate in any new election and we will go underground as we did before and we will not adhere to any commitments, any truce, by anyone. Being ousted from power will have a heavy price for everyone. We hope not to reach that.8221;

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter with the media. Abbas also said that Hamas had to face the facts and negotiate with Israel or the Palestinian people would be left to starve after the US and EU cut funding because of Hamas8217; refusal to recognize Israel or renounce violence.

8220;Hamas has to face the facts and establish communication with Israel,8221; he said. 8220;I8217;m worried that the situation will turn into a tragedy in the near future. A short time later we could be up against a great hunger disaster in Palestine.8221; 8220;Without help we can8217;t stand on our feet long,8221; he added. Abbas said that he would work for a solution with or without Hamas.

8220;Hamas can support me or not. When I find a way to a solution with Israel, I8217;ll present this to the Palestinian people in a referendum,8221; he said. 8212;LOUIS MEIXLER