Arafat offers Hamas posts in Cabinet

JERUSALEM -- Yasser Arafat has offered Cabinet posts to Hamas and other militant groups involved in suicide attacks against Israelis as part of a government reshuffle he plans to announce in coming days, Palestinians said Sunday.

While three other radical groups have turned down the Palestinian leader's offer, saying they don't want to belong to a government that's willing to negotiate with Israel, Hamas is weighing the proposal, the group said.

It would mark the first time in his eight years as chairman of the Palestinian Authority that Arafat formally brought Hamas into government -- a move likely to be strongly opposed by Israel and the United States, which both regard Hamas as a terrorist group.

"We are still consulting with our colleagues inside and outside the homeland, and our final response will be declared before the end of this week," Hamas spokesman Ismail Hania said.

Of the more than 60 suicide attacks by Palestinians in the current Mideast conflict, Hamas' military wing has carried out more than any other group, including the deadliest attacks. The group has rejected Arafat's call to stop.

"The question is whether the Palestinians are taking this seriously," said Danny Seaman, an Israeli government spokesman. Referring to an alliance with Hamas, Seaman said, "If this is the direction that Arafat takes, he shouldn't be surprised at the attitude that Israel takes in response."

In talks with leading Palestinian factions over the past few weeks, Arafat has been looking at reducing his current 32-member Cabinet to 18 or 19 posts, and bringing in a number of new faces, aides say. The Cabinet has had limited power, generally falling in line with Arafat's decisions.

"President Arafat is conducting serious and intensive consultations with Palestinian factions and academics . . . to establish a new government," said Ahmed Qureia, parliament's speaker. "We hope the Palestinian Authority will declare the new government very soon."

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