Al-Quds city- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday that if Hamas participate in Palestinian legislative elections, then Israel would not hold joint meetings with Palestinians, and would make it difficult for Hamas to campaign freely.

Sharon made the comments before the Israeli parliament”s Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, his spokesman, Asaf Shariv, said.

In the past, the two sides have met to negotiate Palestinian prisoner releases, the handover of West Bank towns to Palestinian control, and a variety of other issues.

The Palestinians say that Israeli roadblocks throughout the West Bank must be lifted ahead of the Jan. 25 election to allow candidates to campaign freely and to permit voters to travel to rallies and the polls, according to a report of the Associated Press.