JERUSALEM, Feb. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told an Israeli TV on Friday that Israel should understand that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)'s election victory had positive dimensions.

    Speaking to Israel's Channel 10 TV, Abbas said that Israeli Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert must understand that Hamas victory had positive dimensions.

    Abbas also said that Hamas had been working to try to calm the Palestinian streets since it won the Jan. 25 Palestinian legislative elections by a landslide.

    Hamas leaders are trying to halt rocket attacks by Palestinian militants on Israel, he added.

    When asked about Hamas' charter which calls for Israel's destruction, Abbas urged Israel to "wait and see" Hamas' plans to run the next Palestinian government.

    In addition, the Palestinian president reiterated willingness to hold talks with Israel at any appropriate time.

    Abbas also called upon Israel not to close the door of talks, saying that he was in charge of negotiations with Israel, instead of a Hamas-led cabinet.

    Abbas' statements came shortly after two Palestinian militants were killed by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. Several Palestinian militant groups, including one linked with Hamas, vowed revenge.

    Defeating Abbas' long dominant Fatah movement, Hamas garnered 76 seats in the 132-member Palestinian parliament in the January polls.

    The Hamas-dominated legislature was sworn in on Feb. 18.

    Abbas has formally appointed Gaza-based senior Hamas leader Ismail Haneya as prime minister and tasked him with forming the next Palestinian government, which is expected to come in weeks. Enditem