PALESTINE - Feb 14 - Hamas Fills First Parliamentary Posts.

Hamas makes its first parliamentary appointments as Israel prepares to decide on its strategy towards the Palestinians after the Islamic militant group takes up the reins of power. It named Mahmoud al-Zahar from Gaza, one of its most hardline leaders, as head of the Hamas majority faction in the legislature, which convenes on Feb 18 for its first session since the group won the Jan. 25 Palestinian election. Aziz Dweik, from the West Bank, was chosen by Hamas as parliamentary speaker. As the leader of parliament, Dweik would become interim Pres, pending an election within 60 days, in the event of the death, resignation or incapacitation of Pres Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah faction The appointments raised speculation that Hamas would choose another of its leaders, Ismail Haniyeh, as prime minister. A Gazan, he is viewed by Palestinians as a pragmatist who has forged good relations with rival factions. Hamas officials have said they expect the group to announce it choice for the post as early as Feb 18 or 19, after parliament convenes and before Israel holds its own election on Mar 28. With the clock ticking towards formation of a Palestinian government, Israeli FM Tzipi Livni summoned advisers for consultations that one official said would focus on "funding for the PA in the Hamas era". Israeli officials have said Israel is trying to persuade donor nations to cut off support for the PA once a parliament dominated by Hamas is sworn in. Hamas's charter calls for Israel's destruction. The US and Israel hope to isolate a Palestinian government headed by Hamas financially and diplomatically to pressure it to renounce violence, recognise the Jewish state and honour interim peace agreements, the Israeli officials said. Palestinians receive about $1 bn a year from all donors and the PA requires at least $100m a month. Palestinian officials have said they expect Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Arab states to boost the amount of support they provide to the authority in the coming months. Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz planned to convene his advisers on Feb 16 to discuss security policy towards the Palestinians with Hamas in the government. Hamas has masterminded nearly 60 suicide bombings against Israelis since a Palestinian uprising began in 2000, but has largely adhered to a truce declared last March. Israeli security sources said proposals could include a tightening of travel restrictions for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, where Israel is building a barrier it says is vital to its security and the World Court has deemed illegal. In a posting on a Hamas Web site, the group's armed wing, Izz el-Deen al-Qassam, said its fighters had received funding and training from the Iranian-backed Hizbollah movement in Lebanon, a link long denied by Hamas leaders. A Hamas spokesman in Gaza declined to comment on the information on the site, [e-mail]. There was no immediate comment from Hizbollah in Beirut on the alleged funding, which the Internet site said had helped Hamas establish its first cell in the West Bank after the start of a Palestinian uprising in 2000.