Hamas ready to join a government when Palestinian state is established

The Palestinian Hamas movement has expressed its readiness to take part in the general elections and to join to a government when a Palestinian state is established.

The spokesman of the movement, Mahmoud Zahhar, said in statements to reporters on Wednesday in Gaza that when a Palestinian state is established Hamas will be ready to change itself into a political party and to participate in the government. He added that like any opposition party Hamas will take part in parliamentary elections and if it wins large numbers of votes it will take part in the government.

The spokesman stressed that Hamas will continue to avoid political engagement during the provisional period of the Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Israeli army radio on Wednesday quoted Sheikh Yassin, founder of the Hamas movement as saying that there is nothing that prevents his movement from taking part in the Palestinian government following the establishment of a state.