Hamas condemns 'unlawful' Abbas election call
Meshal: Reconciliation first, then we go to elections; Abbas defends decision to hold elections Jan. 24.
By The Associated Press Tags: Palestinian election Mahmoud Abbas Israel newsThe political leader of Hamas condemned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday for calling elections in January, regardless of whether a Palestinian reconciliation deal is reached beforehand.
"We condemn this step and consider it illegal and unlawful," Khaled Mashal, told reporters. "Reconciliation first and then we go to elections."
Abbas said on Friday that his government would hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 24.
Other Hamas officials also criticized the announcement, deepening the rift between the Islamic group and Abbas' secular Fatah movement, which have led dueling governments in Gaza and the West Bank for the past two years. The split has complicated efforts at Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.
On Saturday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called Abbas' election decree unconstitutional and illegal and said elections cannot be held with without reconciliation.
"We see from Abbas' statements today that Abbas wants elections under conditions that he sets. Elections can't be held under these circumstances, as long as there is no agreement," Abu Zuhri said.
The decision to hold balloting in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza satisfies a legal requirement that Abbas decree elections, but binds him to a vote that many see as unlikely to happen, given Hamas opposition.
Abbas said Palestinian law required him to decree elections for January after Hamas rejected a unity deal that would have postponed elections until June.
"When we didn't reach national reconciliation, we returned to the constitution and the law," Abbas told the Palestine Liberation Organization's central council in Ramallah.
But he did not say how his Palestinian Authority would apply the decree, which he signed Friday, outside the West Bank, the only territory where it holds sway. Although Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for state, Israel annexed the territory in 1967 after capturing it and would need to approve voting there.
Abbas would face a similar obstacle in Gaza, which Hamas seized by force in 2007.
The latest round of Egyptian-brokered reconciliation talks fell apart this week when Hamas refused to sign a reconciliation agreement after Fatah accepted it. Hamas said it disagreed with portions of the final document dealing with elections and security forces.
Under Palestinian law, the election results would be legitimate even if Gazans weren't allowed to participate as long as representatives from Gaza were to appear on ballots.
Political analyst Hani al-Masri said Abbas' decree sought to reaffirm his legitimacy as president while pressuring Hamas into accepting a reconciliation agreement. Abbas was elected in 2005 to a four-year term that was later extended by a year, a move Hamas has refused to recognize.
"Abu Mazen wants to make Hamas come back to the Palestinian political scene, but he wants them to do so after recognizing his legitimacy and leadership, not as competitors and opposition," Masri said, referring to Abbas by his nickname.
Palestinian legislative elections were last held in 2006, when Hamas won a majority.
Fatah members insist the decree was a constitutional requirement and not intended to pressure Hamas, though they say they still want reconciliation.
"The door of reconciliation with our brothers in Hamas is open and we won't close it until the last moment," said leading Fatah member Jibril Rajoub.
Other say elections can only realistically be held after a unity agreement.
"Any real action that is taken by the Palestinians has to be done under an agreement," said Fatah member Qadoura Faris. "Without that, nothing can be done."
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There are two elections for the PNA. One is for the Legislative Council i.e. the Parliament. That has to happen in January because it has a fixed 4-year term and needs 90 days' notice. Whether Abbas should or shouldn't be President or Hamas likes or dislikes it, that's the rules set out in the constitution, which everybody from the UN to US to EU to Israel expects and requires them to follow. The other is for President. Sure, he should have resigned 9 months ago but that wasn't an option. The rightful legal caretaker was locked up in an Israeli jail, a new election was not feasible due to the split with Gaza and the US, Israel and EU would not accept a Hamas President even if one won, making a fresh election rather pointless. Better late than never, at least it is now happening.
The right in America excoriated Pres. Zelaya of Honduras for trying to call a non-binding referendum and wholly supports the coup that expelled him. It was not coincidence that Zelaya is a leftist and those instigating the coup were the far-right business establishment that supported the Reagan death squads in the 1980s. Will Abbas become the next Zelaya for the American right? Consistency would so demand. Or will they reveal their true colors and say we like Abbas, therefore we like illegal elections? Logical or moral consistency is not part of the right. They'll support Abbas.
the old guard locked the newer, younger guys out. There is a chance for them to at least take the first step and field a candidate? Old fears die hard on both sides of the fence.
you appear to be responding to this article about the palestinians... but your diatribe describes the israeli government perfectly. do you mind if i reference it to others? i believe it's the most concise description the israeli government i've ever read.
What happens when Israel says "no" to campaigning in Jerusalem? or "no" to politicians travel from one area to another? or "no" to one party's participation? How will that go down in the West Bank?
Last call to "protect Al Aqsa" was a big dud. People in the West Bank are moving on and working toward a better economy. Building and available housing, new banks, new business, better living conditions. They want the good life, not Hamas and their extremism.
keep raising the bar. Egypt is disgusted. Hamas has been asking for elections, now they're freaking out because they will lose.
But Abbas's coup in the West Bank succeeded. That fact did not appease Israel, which simply spent the next half-decade destroying Abbas. Mission accomplished. Now, a year or so after his term expired, and the Israel aided Fatah coup in the West Bank destroyed any constitutional authority for Abbas, he has thrown in the towel. Israel has destroyed him. He is giving up on any hope of peace. Israel, it seems, has won total victory. There is nothing left of any legitimate 'partner for peace.' Abbas has been destroyed, the PA destroyed, VICTORY! Yes, Israel is delighted. But who will win the election? Some fool who mimics Abbas? Or Hamas who won Cast Lead? Israel has achieved what it wanted. But does it want what it achieved? Only if it is insane.
It appears that Hamas does not want reconciliation or elections. With their support on the decline, Hamas is hoping for an act to redeem their tarnished image, before the election, but they forfeited that chance by not signing the draft agreement with Fatah. With no reconciliation and no election they , Hamas can still maintain their besieged fiefdom in Gaza. They know the people of Gaza will not forgive their adventurism, by dragging them into a war they can not win with Israel. They have a lot to fear from an election.
How is it possible that elections are unconstitutional due to division, but the division itself is constitutional? However, if there really was extra requirements in the Egypt proposal, then it would validate Hamas' claim.
What a bunch of dithering fools!!! They can't even agree amongst themselves who is on first. And they expect the rest of the free world to accept them as a free and independent state capable of self government!!! These morons are at the top of list of the most incapable, dysfunctional and incompetant people on the face of the planet !!! It's simply comical to listen to their repeated whining, crying and slobbering about how they are mistreated and direspected by all the nations of the world. No friggin' wonder !!!!! Look at yourself in the mirror !!!!
because they know they will NOT win a majority; especially in gaza. even if abbas loses re-election, which isn't too likely, hamas will not gain.
Palestinians have plenty of common sense but are completely suppressed by Israel, the US and their own leaderships. The majority don't want Abbas or his ageing ilk, or Hamas. They want an entirely new leadership without the constraints of the old guard. It will happen,but not this time around.
...of any Israeli government. All of them have been riddled with corruption.
Due to the past election Fatih and hamas were representing togther lest than 45% that means both are not repersinting the magiroty. when I see the meda I feel that all the palestinians are either fatih or hamas which is not right. any how since the disput still there I think the national intrest is to go back to the people to choose a gain, please all respect others who are the magiroty and who are not owend by either one of them (hamas or fatih) . let the election occurs based on the platform of the group not based on other things.let us see
Except in a couple of West Bank cities, would Israel allow PA elections? Who gets to vote from East Jerusalem and where? Will campaigning be allowed in East Jerusalem? If they vote in the West Bank, will they be allowed back home? What about Gaza? Will they be allowed to vote? Will candidates be allowed to travel to and from Gaza? The PA Basic law has geographic member districts. Will Israel allow that to be continued? Better to focus on declaring and getting recognized a state of Palestine first. Worry about elections when Israel has no say and after Israeli troops are out of Palestine.
Gaza and the WB have been two different political entities since the coup d'etat in Gaza June 2007. Would it be so bad for everybody if this split was codified by 2 distinct Palestinian governments?
not
his term ran out...at this point he has no legal athority to decree anything...and hamas is still the constitutionally elected government
The successful destruction of Abbas and any hope for peace has left a golden opportunity for Hamas.
Granted, Abbas extended his term unilaterally for a year, in light of the dislocation caused by the Hamas/Fatah fight in Gaza. (Presidents tend to do that in national emergencies). Granted too, under PA Basic Law, the Speaker, Aziz Duwaik, should probably have been appointed acting President for the year. The realities were (a) Duwaik, being Hamas, was not 'acceptable' to the US and EU, who cut off all financial assistance to the PA while Hamas was in charge, and (b) Israel had anyway arrested and imprisoned him (for being a Hamas member!) in June 2006, so it wasn't an option, he wasn't available. He was only let out 4 months ago. He himself has said he is content to let Abbas remain in office up to the new Presidential election, so what's the problem? If there is any blame, it lies squarely with the US and EU, urged on by Israel, who refused to accept a democratic election result because the 'wrong party' won and made its position untenable by cutting off funds.
in Israel says Eli, the implication being that the Pals don't. The last Palestinian election ran smoothly and properly. The EU and UN monitors praised the procedures and conduct. There were no serious allegations or claims of improper conduct. Why is it necessary to belittle it? It does rather knock on the head the mantra that Israel-is-the-only -democracy-in-the-Middle-East. But surely Israelis should be pleased that Palestine can hold even a half-decent election, let alone a commendable one? I thought that was one of the (many) preconditions of Palestine attaining full independence? By the way, they have a much better PR system than Israel! You really need to change this national list, low threshold, non-constituency system you use, it's the worst of all worlds.
Suddenly the PNA is interested in the Constitution. Abu Mazen's term expired months ago and he was still playing president.
If strife between Hamas and Fatah is hurting all Palestinians and their aspirations to rid themselves of a brutal occupation. Fatah and the PA are corrupt and weak, they played all their political cards including the threat of active or even passive resistance to the occupation. Hamas seems inflexible and unwilling to compromise, their rockets falling in empty fields have lost their luster and strategic threat. In the meantime Netanyahu with a big smirk on his face screams from the bottom of his lungs "lets starts the peace negotiations" and of course adds quietly "that will take us nowhere". The Palestinians are stuck on that broken escalater and do not have the common sense to walk off it.
What is this world is coming to!
8 would be best. What a tragedy that they can not get along with anyone, including themselves.
But we have real elections