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Last update - 02:13 25/10/2009
Palestinian elections / Abbas on the offensive
By Avi Issacharoff
Tags: Palestinian elections 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas stood before the Palestine Liberation Organization Central Committee to explain his decision Friday to declare January 24 as the date for parliamentary and presidential elections. He said this was no political trick, but few people present believed him.

It is hard to imagine elections being held in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in three months, when Hamas already has announced that this is an illegitimate decision made by an illegitimate president. In other words, Hamas has no intentions of allowing elections to take place in Gaza. Moreover, Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government will oppose holding elections in East Jerusalem, especially if Hamas eventually agrees to participate.

Issuing a presidential decree about elections is a necessary political move for Abbas. Starting on January 25, his term - as it is interpreted by his supporters - is over. According to Hamas, Abbas' term ended this past January. More than paving the way for elections, declaring a date lays the ground for justifying extending his term on the grounds that Hamas is refusing to participate in elections.
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The announcement is also meant to pressure Hamas to agree to the Egyptian proposal for reconciliation with Fatah. If there is no agreement by January 24, the Palestinians will perceive Hamas as responsible for foiling attempts at unity, which is a popular goal.

To a great extent, Abbas changed tactics on Friday. He opted not to wait for Hamas to respond to the reconciliation offer, while taking unprecedented criticism, mostly over the PA's initial decision to delay a request for international deliberation of the Goldstone report on alleged war crimes during Operation Cast Lead.

Instead, he opted to go on the offensive and push Hamas into a corner, accusing the Islamist organization of dragging its feet in responding to the Egyptian reconciliation agreement.

Abbas is also declaring that he is now willing to have the Palestinian voters decide who will lead them, but it is Hamas that is hesitating.

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