Abbas' Decree for Elections Draws Ire

Islamic militant movement Hamas, and seven other Damascus-based Palestinian factions, slammed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' decree on Saturday for holding Presidential elections next January as "illegal," accusing the United States of being behind the call which would deepen internal rift.

"The decision of holding elections is neither legal nor legislative and consolidates inter division … it is retraction of the deal reached in previous dialogues", a joint statement by the factions read.

"The U.S. and regional parties are behind this decision that serves neither people's interest nor national unity. Adopting individual decisions comes within the US-Zionist vision that aims to liquidate our people's rights," the statement, obtained by our office in Damascus, said.

Abbas, whose term expired earlier this year, has announced that presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on 24 January across the Palestinian territories, including the rival Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Hamas, a bitter rival of Abbas' Fatah group, seized control of Gaza two years ago after routing out Fatah forces. The Palestinians have since had two rival governments, with Hamas in control of Gaza, while the Western-backed Fatah governs the West Bank.

The statement warned against "individual steps that would damage the Palestinian national cause and meet the U.S.-Zionist dictations," underlining that "national reconciliation" was the only way to treat political arguments.

The four-year term of the Palestinian Legislative Council, or parliament, is due to expire in January 2010 at which time fresh elections must be held, according to the Palestinian constitution.

Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of Hamas political bureau, told our office in Damascus that "the elections which Abbas wants to hold next year would not take place in Gaza or anywhere else because there is no Palestinian reconciliation," warning the call was "unconstitutional and a fierce blow to national unity efforts."

Hamas has the power to prevent a credible election taking place on its territory, home to 1.5 million Palestinians. A vote without the full participation of Gaza could effectively create two rival Palestinian powers in separate territories. About 2.5 million Palestinians live in the West Bank.

An opinion poll earlier this month showed Abbas losing popular support after a series of policy breakdowns over the stalled Middle East peace process and a U.N. report criticizing Israel for alleged war crimes in Gaza last January.

Egypt has been trying to mediate between the Palestinians, in a prelude to wider Mideast peace efforts that would include a peace deal with Israel.

Fatah said it had accepted the Egyptian proposal to hold presidential and legislative elections next year as part of a broad package meant to end the bitter rivalry with Hamas, which has complicated U.S.-led efforts to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Hamas said it would not sign the Egyptian proposal following Palestinian anger over the decision by Abbas to delay a U.N. vote on the Goldstone report.
The report accuses mainly Israel - but also Hamas - of having committed war crimes during the 22-day war that killed 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis last year.

Under the 25-page reconciliation pact, the Palestinians would hold presidential and legislative elections on June 28.

The Egyptian proposal has failed to address some key issues in the dispute — most importantly whether a unified Palestinian government would accept international demands to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist.

Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel was a major point of friction in a short-lived Palestinian unity government that disintegrated during the Gaza infighting.