RAMALLAH, Jan. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat urged the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Tuesday to accept the U.S.-backed roadmap plan for peace in the Middle East. 

    Erekat's appeal to Hamas leaders came shortly after they rejected the Quartet Committee's preconditions of keeping aid to a new Palestinian government after Hamas' stunning victory in Jan. 25 parliamentary elections.

    On Monday, top Hamas leader Ismael Haneya sent an open letter to the Committee comprising the U.S., the EU, the UN and Russia, urging Quartet to hold unconditional talks with it and continue financial aid to the Palestinians.

    The Quartet said in a statement after meeting in London on Monday evening that the donors would cut off aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government unless it was committed to renouncing violence, recognizing Israel and accepting peace agreements including roadmap.

    Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, described the Quartet's statement as a blackmail to the Palestinian people. 

    Zuhri said the Quartet should ask Israel to end its occupation and aggression, instead of asking the Palestinians to recognize the occupiers.

    Erekat told the Palestinian radio, Voice of Palestine, that Hamas has to put the highest interests of the Palestinian people over any consideration and has to stick to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) commitment to the roadmap.

    "In this stage, the Palestinian people is demanded to comply with the international accords, and the Quartet Committee has to respect the Palestinian people's democratic choice," Erekat said. 

    He said the PNA urged the Quartet Committee and the international community not to make collective punishment on the Palestinian people.  Enditem