Gaza City  - Ismail Haniya, the de-facto prime minister of Hamas in Gaza, expressed indifference at the predicted election victory for Tzipi Livni as the new leader of Israel's ruling party, saying both she and her rivals deny "legitimate Palestinian rights."

"All Israeli leaders unite in their hostile positions against our people and in denying their rights, notably Jerusalem and the refugees," Haniya told reporters in Gaza.

"Regardless of who will win in Israel, we won't change our position," he said, adding "the Zionist dream to establish the great Israel has been defeated by the Islamic project, which gained in strength dramatically in the region."

Exit polls broadcast Wednesday evening predicted Foreign Minister Livni, Israel's chief negotiator and a staunch advocate of a two- state solution to the Middle East conflict, defeated Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, a comparative hawk within the country's centrist Kadima party, who wants to postpone negotiations on a final peace deal. (dpa)