JERUSALEM, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz demanded Thursday that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) must dismantle militant organizations.

    Mofaz made the demand in his meeting with U.S. envoy to the Middle East David Welch, who came to the region on Wednesday with another U.S. envoy Elliot Abrahams for preparatory talks ahead of the Palestinian parliamentary elections due on Jan. 25.

    Mofaz told Welch that PNA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will be required to present a detailed plan for dismantling militant organizations on the day following the Palestinian elections.

    He added that the plan must include a schedule for the measures to be taken against these groups after the Jan. 25 poll.

    The defense minister, meanwhile, promised that Israel would allow the Palestinian elections to be held in order, including in East Jerusalem, as long as Hamas does not participate in the poll.

    If Hamas wins power in parliament after the elections and seeks to join the Palestinian government, there will be no room for any dialogue with Israel so long as Hamas remains a terror organization, warned Mofaz. Enditem