RAMALLAH, December 18, 2005 (WAFA)- Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Rawhi Fattouh, refused the US House of Representatives vote against the participation of Hamas in the Legislative elections.

Fattouh considered the vote contradicts with the basis of democracy which gives people the right to choose their candidates.

In a vote of 397 to 17, US House of Representatives resolved that Hamas should not be permitted to participate in Palestinian elections until such organizations recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state.

The Speaker said that such vote is threatening the Palestinian stability and encourage the Israelis to continue their ongoing policy of expansion.

He affirmed the necessity to run the elections in its proposed time out of any intervention, calling upon the international community to pressurize Israel to ease the democratic process.

H.M. (14:23 P) (12:23 GMT)