The radical Palestinian group Hamas has taken over as the dominant party in the Palestinian parliament.
After being sworn in Saturday Hamas lawmakers said they will not abide by previously signed agreements recognizing Israel's right to exist.
In his address to the new 132-seat parliament, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party was defeated by Hamas last month, said he will continue his commitment to negotiations with Israel.
He also urged Hamas to honor existing treaties with Israel, including the 1993 Oslo Accords which created the Palestinian Authority.
A short while later, senior Hamas lawmakers said negotiations with Israel are not on the Hamas agenda.
However, Hamas said Saturday it will soon offer parliament a plan aimed at setting a long-term truce with Israel, if Israel withdraws from all land captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Israel and the United States have classified Hamas as a terrorist organization. The Israeli cabinet meets Sunday to decide whether to impose new restrictions on the Palestinians because of Hamas' presence in the government.
Proposed Israeli measures would bar Palestinians from working in Israel and from traveling between Gaza and the West Bank.
Hamas won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council in January 25th polls, defeating the long-dominant Fatah party that was widely accused of corruption and mismanagement
After being sworn in Saturday Hamas lawmakers said they will not abide by previously signed agreements recognizing Israel's right to exist.
In his address to the new 132-seat parliament, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party was defeated by Hamas last month, said he will continue his commitment to negotiations with Israel.
He also urged Hamas to honor existing treaties with Israel, including the 1993 Oslo Accords which created the Palestinian Authority.
A short while later, senior Hamas lawmakers said negotiations with Israel are not on the Hamas agenda.
However, Hamas said Saturday it will soon offer parliament a plan aimed at setting a long-term truce with Israel, if Israel withdraws from all land captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Israel and the United States have classified Hamas as a terrorist organization. The Israeli cabinet meets Sunday to decide whether to impose new restrictions on the Palestinians because of Hamas' presence in the government.
Proposed Israeli measures would bar Palestinians from working in Israel and from traveling between Gaza and the West Bank.
Hamas won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council in January 25th polls, defeating the long-dominant Fatah party that was widely accused of corruption and mismanagement