GAZA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The radical Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which contests Palestinian parliamentary elections for the first time, on Wednesday put real reform and change to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) high on the agenda.

    Ismael Haneya, top Hamas candidate who heads the group's list in the upcoming election due on Jan. 25, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

    He told Xinhua that Hamas also aimed at eradicating corruption, poverty and chaos in the Palestinian territories, while persisting with the armed resistance against Israeli occupation. Haneya said that Hamas presents in its program of reforms and real changes in the social, security, cultural and economic situations.

    Referring to what makes Hamas different from the others, Haneya said that Hamas' election program is part of the movement's strategy and the significant visions in treating all kinds of complicated problems will help the Palestinians."I believe that Hamas can really make real change and achieve real reforms, this is our slogans" said Haneya.

    Hamas, which is considered by the West a terrorist organization, refused to join the 1996 legislative election, he said, adding it was part of Oslo peace agreements reached between Israel and the Palestinians, in which Hamas had rejected.

    "Israel undermined these accords, therefore we found ourselves having a duty to join the election this time and share the political partnership with other Palestinian groups and political powers," added Haneya.

    Hamas political force grew up over the past five years of the Palestinian Intifada (uprising), while the ruling Fatah movement suffered weakness, internal arguments and divisions.The charity activities carried out by Hamas had also helped increasing its popularity.

    Hamas rejects until now holding direct peace negotiations with Israel, however, it excluded a provision from its election program to call for the destruction of the state of Israel to reduce its opposition to join the legislative council (parliament)."Our election program is speaking about the principles and we never dropped or neglected the choice of armed resistance continuation," Haneya said.

    Hamas still believes in these principles of the Palestinian people's right in every inch of the lands of the Palestine.It, meanwhile, had witnessed recently internal arguments on what extent this reform and change it is going towards, however,this argument is hidden not public as it happens in the Fatah movement.

    The fact that Hamas might achieve victory in the legislative election worried Israel and it might foil any hope to revive the stalled peace process or renew the peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

    Israel insists that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should dismantle Hamas group and disarm it.

    Haneya announced that Hamas won't hold any talks or negotiations with Israel in case it wins in the PLC election.He added that the problem of negotiations was not caused byHamas or by the Palestinian people, the negotiations had failed and the Israeli occupation doesn't want to recognize the Palestinian people's rights.

    The Hamas leader stressed that the movement would work parallel with both political activities and armed resistance, add ingnegotiations with Israel is not at all put in the political agenda of Hamas.

    He clarified that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)is the one which leads the negotiations with Israel and not the PNA, which is not involved in the talks with Israel.Recent fresh polls showed that Hamas would get a 35 percent in the parliament while Fatah movement would get 40 percent.Hamas also achieved high percentages in the last municipal elections.

    Haneya didn't rule out the possibility that Hamas forms a cabinet in case it wins in the upcoming legislative election,adding that Hamas has two tracks in this respect: the first is to work on achieving the programs of the movement and the second is to cooperate with other factions and serve the interests of the people.

    The Hamas leader noted that Hamas would work on forming a large-scale national stream in the PNA by holding coalitions that would enable it to go ahead with the political situation."We will wait for the results and we would act according to the highest interests of our people," said Haneya, adding that a dialogue would immediately start to rearrange the PLO and the internal Palestinian situation after the election.Hamas wants to rebuild the PLO depending on political principles and also to reform the Palestinian National Council (PNC), the parliament in exile, he said, expressing hope that this would be crowned with positive results.

    Haneya appreciated the historic ties between China and the Palestinians, saying that he highly appreciate the Chinese role towards the Palestinian people and the Palestinian revolution."China had trained the Palestinians and recognized the Palestinian people's rights," Haneya said.

    He expressed hope that China would continue as a great country to help and support the Palestinian people until they get their independence and freedom. Enditem