Israel could hinder voting in the occupied West Bank during a Palestinian legislative election in January if Hamas candidates take part, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in remarks published on Saturday.
"We will make every effort not to help (the Palestinians). I don't think they can have elections without our help," Sharon was quoted by The New York Times as telling journalists at a meeting in New York.
Sharon said Israel might not remove roadblocks in the West Bank, making it difficult for Palestinians there to vote, if Hamas, which calls for the destruction of the Jewish state, runs in the January 25 ballot, the newspaper reported.
Hamas is widely expected to do well at the ballot box at the expense of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' mainstream Fatah faction. Abbas hopes to move Hamas into the political mainstream and away from confrontation with Israel.
Sharon's threats have caused deep concern within the Palestinian Authority, which is eager to demonstrate that it was committed to democracy on the road to statehood.
"We urge Sharon to stay out of our internal affairs," said Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. "We hope these elections will take place in the fairest and most honest atmosphere possible," he added.
Hamas made a strong showing in recent municipal elections and has said it would run in the parliamentary poll for the first time.
"The Israeli occupation will shoulder the consequences and the responsibility for any intervention on the ground to undermine the election," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
"Undermining the elections will not weaken Hamas. On the contrary it will lead to escalating resistance against the occupation."
Sharon made similar remarks on Wednesday during a briefing to reporters who travelled with him from Israel, but stopped short of mentioning specific steps that could disrupt the poll.
"I announced as clearly as I could that we formally oppose Hamas' participation in the election as long as it is not disarmed and has not cancelled the Hamas charter, which is a horrible document," Sharon said on Wednesday.
In that briefing, he said Israel could not interfere with the vote in Gaza, where it completed a troop pullout on Monday.
"But in other places, we will not cooperate on matters related to the election," he said, without giving details.
SHARON, ABBAS MEETING PLANNED Earlier this week, an aide to Sharon said the prime minister and Abbas could meet later in September or in early October.
But Erekat said no date had been set for such a meeting.
"In principle we have no objections. There is a possibility for a meeting at the beginning of October," Erekat said.
Hamas suicide bombers have killed hundreds of Israelis during a Palestinian uprising that began in 2000. At least 3,423 Palestinians and 985 Israelis died in the revolt.
But Hamas has largely abided by a cease-fire that Abbas declared along with Sharon in February.
Sharon's tough line on the election coincides with his own political battle in Israel's Likud Party, where he faces a leadership challenge from right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu, who quit as finance minister in protest at the Gaza pullout.