Abbas Calls for Early Parliamentary and Presidential Elections, Further Separating the West Bank from Gaza Strip

ccun.org, July 18, 2007

An emergency meeting of the Palestine Central Council, a PLO institution located between the PLO Executive Committee and the Palestinian Parliament in Exile (Palestine National Council) was held in Ramallah today about 11:00 am ET. 

President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the meeting attacking the Hamas leadership for taking control over security forces in the Gaza Strip. He called it a coup and reiterated his unwillingness to hold a dialog with them unless they reverse what they did.

The most important part of his speech was his intention to ask the meeting of the Palestine Central Council to agree to early presidential and parliamentary elections in the Palestinian occupied territories. His request is going to be most likely approved by the Fateh-dominated council.

When this happens, there will be elections only in the West Bank, as the Hamas-dominated Gaza Strip has its own elected parliament. It's least likely that Hamas may allow such early elections in the Gaza Strip. 

The result will be, if elections are held, a legal separation between Gaza Strip and the West Bank, a dear Israeli goal of weakening the Palestinian people and further delaying the Palestinian goal of establishing an independent state in the two Palestinian territories.

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Hamas Rejects early elections:

Hamas spokesperson, Ismail Radhwan, told aljazeera satellite tv station at 2:00 pm ET that Hamas rejects the Abbas proposal of early elections, saying that its a coup. He added that the Palestinian basic law limits the power of dissolving the elected parliament in the legislative body itself. The executive branch of the government cannot dissolve the parliament. Thus, Abbas is leading a coup against the Palestinian political system, it's a coup de'tat and Hamas will oppose it.

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Mahmoud Abbas hints at calling early parliamentary and presidential elections 

Date: 18 / 07 / 2007 Time: 16:01

Ramallah – Ma'an – 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has hinted at a possible announcement of new parliamentary and presidential elections.

Following a meeting with EU Foreign and Security policy chief, Javier Solana, in Ramallah, President Abbas was questioned if he would call for new elections. "This is part of the powers of the presidency to issue decrees that will have the power of law. We will issue these decrees soon," Abbas responded.

Although the Hamas movement won internationally-recognised democratic elections in January 2006, the internecine fighting and recent takeover of Gaza by Hamas have contributed toward international calls for a legitimized change of leadership. Hamas have repeatedly rejected calls for elections held before what they believe to be their legitimate term of office has expired.

Following the events of 14th June, President Abbas' Fateh movement have rejected dialogue with the Hamas movement, isolating both Hamas and the Gaza Strip, as Western powers have rallied around presidential control of the Palestinian Authority, and Abbas' appointed emergency government.

By holding elections, President Abbas will attempt to diminish fears that he is gathering increasing amounts of executive power toward himself and his loyal movement. It is not yet known whether the Hamas movement will be officially allowed to participate in any future parliamentary or presidential elections.

A date for any potential future election has yet to be released, but sources close to the Palestinian presidency suggested that the announcement may come "as early as this week or next".

 

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