The Islamic resistance movement Hamas rejected a Palestinian Authority offer to join a revamped Cabinet under Chairman Yasser Arafat, hampering Palestinian efforts to reform their government.

Isma'eel Abu Shanab, a senior Hamas movement leader in Gaza, told United Press International late Sunday that after an internal Hamas leadership debate on the overture, the movement was declining to join a new Palestinian Authority government.

Official Palestinian sources reportedly said Arafat decided to nominate two Islamic Hamas leaders for posts in a new Cabinet. Abu Shanab denied the reports and said that the movement had issued its decision not to participate in the new government.

"The movement is studying how to present a draft to the Palestinian Authority that calls for complete, comprehensive reforms in the Palestinian community that take into consideration the needs of the Palestinian people in the present and the future," said Abu Shanab.

Hours earlier, Abdullah El Shami, an Islamic Jihad senior leader in Gaza said that his group had also rejected the authority's offer to participate in a new Cabinet. The Palestinian Authority's information minister, Yasser Abed Rabbo, said the government invited all Palestinian political groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as other Palestine Liberation Organization opposition groups.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine announced their rejection a few days ago of an offer to join a reshuffled Cabinet

PHOTO CAPTION

The founder of the Islamic militant group Hamas, sheikh Ahmed Yassin (R), speaks to Ismail Abu Shanap, Hamas political leader, during an interview with Reuters in Yassin's home in the Gaza Strip, May 23, 2002. Isma'eel Abu Shanab, told United Press International late Sunday, June 1, 2002, that after an internal Hamas leadership debate on an overture by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, the movement was declining to join a new Palestinian Authority government.
REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
- May 22 12:22 AM