Hamas win may affect Israeli election

ISRAELI officials convened emergency meetings yesterday to decide how to respond to the militant Hamas group’s upset victory in Palestinian elections, maintaining an outward silence while privately blaming each other for the upheaval.

Hamas’s stunning showing in Wednesday’s vote could send tremors through Israel’s own political establishment ahead of March elections by bolstering hawks who oppose territorial concessions to the Palestinians.

Israeli officials declined to comment, but senior security officials gathered yesterday to discuss the results and acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held talks with senior officials.