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Israel Will Bar Hamas Legislators in Gaza from Swearing-In Ceremony


Israel says it will prevent legislators in the Gaza Strip who belong to the militant Islamic group Hamas from traveling to the swearing-in of a new Palestinian Parliament.

The swearing-in takes place on Saturday in Ramallah on the West Bank. Israel controls the checkpoints through which Gazans must pass on their way to the West Bank.

The Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz says the Palestinian ceremony will now take place via video conference.

Israel is expected to implement new restrictions on the Palestinians after the new parliament, with a Hamas majority, is sworn in.

The new measures are expected to include banning Palestinian workers from entering Israel and halting most funding to the Palestinian areas.

A Hamas leader today called Israel's planned restrictions "collective punishment."

Israel's foreign minister Tzipi Livni has said Israel may consider a Hamas-led government a "terrorist entity."
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