Last update - 00:00 02/09/2007
Abbas amends PA election law in bid to boost Fatah versus Hamas
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday announced changes in the Palestinian election law aimed at bolstering his Fatah party against the rival Hamas.
Under the new law, Palestinians will vote solely for party lists, while district voting will be eliminated. In the last legislative election in early 2006, half the seats were chosen on a national list and the other half by districts.
While the national voting appeared to be close, election officials said Hamas had won a large majority in the district races. Hamas apparently took advantage of divisions in Fatah; the long-ruling party fielded multiple candidates in many districts, splitting the Fatah vote.
The decree also requires all parliamentary and presidential candidates to accept the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Fatah dominates the PLO, and Hamas is not a member of the group.
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Abbas' decision is illegal. "Early parliamentary elections are rejected ... and any amendment to the law is also rejected," he said. "Hamas objects to this policy of monopolizing decision making and will not deal with its outcome."
Barhoum said only the Palestinian Legislative Council, which is controlled by Hamas, has authority to change election law. But Abbas said he now holds such authority since parliament is no longer functioning.
Abbas, however, announced following Hamas' violent takeover of the Strip in June, that due to the PLC's inability to meet, all of its legislative powers had been transferred to the office of the PA chairman. Hamas has refused to recognize the move.
The election law amendment was the latest step taken by Abbas meant to marginalize Hamas since it seized control of Gaza.
Abbas has kicked Hamas out of the Palestinian government and announced plans for new elections, although has yet to announce a date for the vote.
Should Abbas go ahead with the decision to hold elections without Hamas' consent, he is likely to do so solely in the West Bank. Hamas would then be expected to boycott the vote, and Fatah would emerge with a clear victory,
Several of the chairman's advisors have recently called on him to do so, saying that such a victory would strengthen Abbas standing among the Palestinian people, and de-legitimize Hamas' government.
However, elections appear unlikely to be held in the near future, as many Fatah officials are opposed to the move, saying it would grant de facto recognition to the division of the PA into separate West Bank and Gaza Strip leaderships.