CAIRO, February 27, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – The Palestinian resistance group Hamas, which cruised to the helm of power in the Palestinian territories after a landslide election victory, is ready for dialogue with the United States and Europe but without any prior conditions, its leader said on Monday, February 27.

"We are ready to engage in constructive dialogue with all parties, including the US, except for the Zionist enemy (Israel)," Khaled Meshaal told the London-based Arabic-speaking international daily Al-Hayat.

"This dialogue should be held on the principles of equality and without preconditions."

Hamas has swept the Palestinian legislative elections, winning 74 of the 132-seat legislature, against 45 for Fatah.

Ismail Haniya, a pragmatist who led the "Change and Reform" list of Hamas candidates to last month's stunning victory, has been officially asked by President Mahmoud Abbas to form the new government.

The United States and the European Union have so far rejected any dialogue with the resistance group unless it disarms, "renounces violence" and recognizes Israel.

"We do not accept these unjust and unrealistic conditions which proved their failure in the past," said Meshaal.

The Hamas leader said the group's election victory has caught the US and the Europeans off guard.

"Hasty reactions by the United States and other international parties reflect confusing stances and illustrate the quagmire these parties are facing after Hamas's election win."

The US and EU have threatened to cut off aid to a Hamas-led government.

"These stances show the double-standards policies pursues by these countries and how hollow are their rhetoric sloganeering about democracy," Meshaal said.

"They want to punish the Palestinian people only because they practiced their democratic right to choose their leaders."

Former US president Jimmy Carter has cautioned the United States and Israel against punishing the Palestinian people for electing Hamas.

Israel has frozen the monthly transfers of tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, worth around $50 million.

The Palestinian Authority is dependent on foreign aid and on tax revenues collected by Israel on its behalf to pay its 140,000 employees and keep its ministries and institutions functioning.

Meshaal said the resistance group was counting on help from Arab and Muslim countries to make up for withheld foreign aid.

"International parties have already signaled they will continue aid to Palestinian projects even under a Hamas-led government.

"In addition, many Arab and Muslim countries have vowed to support the new government."

Khalil Abu Lila, a senior Hamas leader, on Saturday, February 25, told IslamOnline.net they received generous aid pledges at the grassroots and state levels in the Muslim world, double the aid which the US, the EU and others are threatening to cut off.

During her recent Mideast trip, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice failed to mobilize support for isolating the Hamas-led government and deny aid and support to the already cash-strapped Palestinian Authority.

Meshaal said the Hamas-led government will seek to develop the infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territories.

"We will also build up an independent Palestinian economy, curtail government expenses and create new financing sources."

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