Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the coming Hamas-led cabinet Saturday to respect all previous agreements signed with Israel.

"As we succeeded in holding fair and democratic election, I would like to remind those elected and the new government members that they should respect all the signed commitments," Abbas said in a speech at the inaugural session of the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) should pursue peace negotiations since negotiation is the only way to harvest the fruits of long-term struggle and practical opportunity to achieve legitimate national goals, Abbas stressed.

He urged all militant groups to put down arms as soon as possible, saying "Everyone from now on should respect the fact that there is one authority, one law and one gun, which is the legal gun of the Palestinian Authority."

"As we approved negotiations as a strategic choice, we should at the same time develop all peaceful types of resistance," he added.

As to Israel's boycott of a Hamas-led government following Hamas' victory in Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary elections, Abbas said that Israel's punitive measures would backfire.

"Blocking the negotiation track and carrying out unilateral adventures (by Israel) would get us far from peace and settlement, " he asserted. "These measures would never force our people to wave a white flag, and anyone who thinks so would be totally mistaken."

"Hamas win in the election shouldn't be an excuse for blackmailing our people," said Abbas "The Palestinians can never be punished for their democratic choice."

Abbas also sent a message to the Israeli people ahead of the parliamentary election on March 28.

"I say to the Israelis that the road to security can only go through peace, and we are confident that there is no military solution to this conflict," Abbas said.

"I would frankly say that the continuation of occupation and ( Jewish) settlements would lead to more violence and hatred," he warned.

Source: Xinhua