Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Sunday that he would meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Oct. 2 and reiterated Israel's opposition to the participation of Hamas in the Palestinian legislative elections next year.

"I am going to see him on the second of October," Sharon told a group of Jewish leaders in New York, where he attended the UN 60th anniversary summit last week.

He repeated his calls for the Palestinians to implement their commitments under the roadmap peace plan before Israel resumes the stalled peace process.

In his speech, Sharon also warned that Israel would not provide support for the Palestinian in the Jan. 25 legislative elections if the militant group Hamas is allowed to take part.

He listed two conditions for Hamas' participation in the polls -- disarmament and renunciation of its call for Israel's destruction.

"It's not that we are not going to let them hold elections, but we are not going to provide support unless they do these two things," he explained.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2005)