Israel tells Hamas leaders from East Jerusalem to quit party or leave city

Israel last night issued an ultimatum to the four most senior Hamas politicians from East Jerusalem: leave the faction or leave the city.

The Interior Minister, Ronnie Bar-On, announced in a television interview that the Palestinian Authority Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and three other members elected to the Legislative Council in January will have their residency rights revoked unless they renounce Hamas membership.

The minister, Khaled abu Arafa, and the three backbenchers, Mohammed Abu Tir, Ahmed Abu Atoun and Mahmoud Totach, all have the blue identity cards issued by Israel to Palestinians in the Arab eastern sector of the city. "You will either resign or you won't be with us," Mr Bar-On said.

Haaretz newspaper reported that the police had issued warning letters to the four men saying they had to cut all ties with the PA or steps would be taken against them. The four politicians said the move amounted to "eviction" and that they would use "all legal means" to fight the move.

East Jerusalem IDs allow the holders to travel within Israel and entitles them to some benefits, like health care, provided by the Israel state. East Jerusalem itself, which Israel took in the 1967 Six Day War, is regarded as occupied territory by the international community.

Mr Abu Tir, a senior figure who was second on the Hamas candidates' list last January, said: "No one can deport residents of the holy city from their lands. We will fight this erroneous decision every way we can, via the Israeli legal system, the international courts, Palestinian public opinion and the Arab world opinion - in order to defeat these Israeli intentions."

The Hamas leader and PA Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar yesterday issued the most dismissive reaction yet to the proposal by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, to call a referendum if the faction does not sign up to a document proposing a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel.

During a visit to Malaysia, Dr Zahar told Reuters: "This process needs money, we have no money. Nobody will recognise Israel, there is no need for a referendum."

Meanwhile three Palestinians were killed and at least four wounded in an Israeli air force missile strike late last night on a sector of northern Gaza reportedly used for the launching of Qassam missiles. Hospital officials said ambulance workers were having trouble evacuating casualties because of exchanges of fire across the border.

* Ayaz Ali, a British aid worker with the charity Islamic Relief, was released by an Israeli court yesterday after the police failed to satisfy the judge they had sufficient evidence to continue his detention on security grounds.