Palestinian prime minister-designate Haniyeh:

[Behind the Aegis]

Hamas does not want a bloodbath (part of the title)

By Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies, By Arnon Regular

Palestinan Authority prime minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh said Saturday that Hamas does not seek a confrontation with Israel. Speaking to reporters in Gaza, Haniyeh referred to Tuesday's elections in Israel for the first time, although he did not say which party he preferred.

"Hamas' presence in the regime is the beginning to solving the crisis - if the Israelis want this to happen," he said.

"We don't seek a bloodbath in this region," Haniyeh said. "We want rights and dignity for the Palestinian people, and to put an end to this decades-long complicated situation."

Haniyeh said the intention of Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima Party to carry out unilateral withdrawals from parts of the West Bank is unacceptable.

"We will obviously not prevent Israel from withdrawing, but this doesn't mean that we consider the borders they set to be those of the Palestinian state."

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