By JPOST.COM STAFF
MK Silvan Shalom said on Friday morning that both the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships could have prevented the much-feared Hamas victory by deciding not to allow the elections to take place with its participation.
He said, "The Palestinians made a commitment that terror organizations would be forbidden from taking part in the elections, but Abu Mazen [PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas] chose to appease Hamas rather than to confront them."
Shalom also pointed out that perhaps Israel should consider a total separation from the Palestinians, and in the meantime be prepared to keep the settlements under Israel's jurisdiction.