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DATE=6/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233887
TITLE=HAMAS ARAFAT (S/L)
BYLINE=MARK LAVIE
DATELINE=TEL AVIV
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: THE RADICAL PALESTINIAN GROUP HAMAS HAS TURNED DOWN AN 
OFFER TO JOIN YASSER ARAFAT'S NEW CABINET.  ARAFAT IS FORMING A 
NEW GOVERNMENT UNDER THE THREAT OF A NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE FROM HIS 
PARLIAMENT, AS MARK LAVIE REPORTS FROM TEL AVIV.
TEXT: PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT YASSER ARAFAT INVITED THE RADICAL 
ISLAMIC HAMAS GROUP TO TAKE PART IN CONSULTATIONS TOWARD FORMING 
A NEW CABINET FOR HIS PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.  HAMAS OFFICIALS SAY
IT INCLUDED AN INVITATION TO JOIN THE CABINET.  
AS IN THE PAST, HAMAS REFUSED TO JOIN, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL,
BUT WILL ATTEND THE CONSULTATIONS, SET FOR TUESDAY.  
MR. ARAFAT IS FORMING A NEW CABINET UNDER PRESSURE FROM HIS 
PARLIAMENT.  IT THREATENS A VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE BECAUSE OF 
CHARGES OF WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION IN MR. ARAFAT'S ADMINISTRATION. 
MR. ARAFAT'S PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY WAS SET UP IN THE FRAMEWORK OF
PEACE TALKS WITH ISRAEL.  
THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT DOES NOT ACCEPT THE CONCEPT OF A JEWISH 
STATE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND OPPOSES MR. ARAFAT'S DECISION TO 
MAKE PEACE OR EVEN NEGOTIATE WITH ISRAEL.  
                        //REST OPT FOR LONG// 
EXPRESSING ITS REJECTION OF ISRAEL AND PEACE, HAMAS SENT SUICIDE 
BOMBERS INTO ISRAEL, KILLING DOZENS OF ISRAELIS  IN ATTACKS IN 
JERUSALEM AND TEL AVIV. 
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERIOUS HAMAS ATTACKS SINCE LAST 
SEPTEMBER.  MR. ARAFAT'S AIDES MEET OCCASIONALLY WITH HAMAS 
POLITICAL LEADERS.  AT THE SAME TIME, ACTIVISTS IN THE MILITARY 
WING OF HAMAS, THE BRANCH THAT PLANS AND CARRIES OUT ATTACKS 
AGAINST ISRAEL, ARE OFTEN ROUNDED UP AND PUT IN PALESTINIAN 
PRISONS.  
HAMAS OFFICIALS CLAIM THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MILITARY
AND POLITICAL WINGS OF THE GROUP.  SURVEYS SHOW THAT HAMAS HAS 
BEEN GAINING POPULARITY AMONG PALESTINIANS AS THE YEAR-LONG 
STALEMATE IN PEACE TALKS WITH ISRAEL CONTINUES.  
HAMAS FOUNDER SHEIKH AHMED YASSIN IS NEARING THE END OF A 
TRIUMPHANT TOUR OF ARAB COUNTRIES, WHERE HE RAISED MILLIONS OF 
DOLLARS FOR THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT BASED IN GAZA.  ISRAEL RELEASED 
HIM FROM PRISON PAST YEAR.  
THE PURPOSE OF HIS TRIP ABROAD WAS PRESENTED AS MEDICAL 
TREATMENT.  SHEIKH YASSIN IS CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR, PARALYZED 
FROM THE NECK DOWN AS THE RESULT OF A CHILDHOOD ACCIDENT.  AFTER 
DISCUSSING THE PROS AND CONS OF REFUSING TO LET HIM RETURN HOME 
AFTER HIS FUND-RAISING MISSION, ISRAEL'S GOVERNMENT HAS 
REPORTEDLY DECIDED TO ALLOW SHEIKH YASSIN TO RETURN TO GAZA.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/MLV/DW/WFR
14-Jun-98 11:18 AM EDT (1518 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.