Israel’s foreign minister voiced concern that Hamas could take over the West Bank.
Tzipi Livni said Monday that after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, Israel has to be careful not to allow a similar shift of power in the West Bank, where Mahmoud Abbas’s more moderate Fatah still holds sway.
“We have to take this into account, of course,” she told Israel Radio, adding that any further moves to establish a Palestinian state “must be predicated on waging war against terror”.
Livni also blamed the fall of Hamas on Abbas’ “weakness” as Palestinian Authority president and said Israel should not rush to accommodate him unless he “proves himself through actions”.
Livni was to lobby her European Union counterparts in Strasbourg later Monday not to abandon their sanctions against Hamas.
