From the Palestine Chronicle, with thanks to Alyssa Lappen:
Hamas said on Tuesday, March 9, that it would lay down a plan to run the Gaza Strip if Israeli occupation forces withdrew from it, stressing that this does not mean that the group will move from opposition to power-sharing.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart Ahmed Qorei also moved closer to their long-awaited first meeting amid a flurry of diplomatic activity on Wednesday, March 10, aimed at restarting the Middle East peace process.
Hamas would join taking control of the strip in a “democratic” way “with or without elections”, Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin said.
“The plan would be tabled before the Palestinian Authority and other factions for approval,” Yassin said.
But he made clear that Hamas’ participation in the administration depends on how comprehensive the Israeli pullout would be.
“It is a code of conduct all should abide by, and consultations are underway with Palestinian groups in this regard for no one to impose his will on us,” Yassin said.
Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization executive, said on Tuesday that an international force should be deployed in the Gaza Strip if Israel withdraws from it, in order to help the Palestinian authority establish its rule there.