WEST BANK/GAZA: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas calls for early elections to Hamas dismay, Fatah support and Hamas and Fatah demonstrations in Gaza, clashes in Khan Younis

President Mahmoud Abbas called on Saturday (December 16) for fresh Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections, raising the stakes after days of internal violence that has renewed fears of civil war. Abbas said polls should be held at the earliest opportunity, but appeared to leave the door open to his Hamas rivals by saying efforts should be made to form a government that could lift Western sanctions on the Palestinian administration. Internal tensions are at their worst in a decade after months of talks between the ruling Hamas Islamist movement and Abbas's Fatah faction on forging a unity cabinet foundered. "I have decided to call for legislative and presidential elections," Abbas said. Hamas rejected calls by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for early legislative and presidential elections on Saturday (December 16). "Nothing we are not going to participate or allow running election which is unacceptable. We are here running governments the governments will not arrange for any election and the central committee for the election should cooperate. If we are not going to cooperate there will be practically no election. We are advising the people to avoid these decision because if they are going to do it against the will of the Palestinian people against the government i think this will threaten the integrity of the Palestinian people." Azzahar told reporters at a press conference which he held in order to react to Abbas's speech. A senior Abbas aide, Saeb Erekat, said elections could not be held before the middle of next year for legal and technical reasons. He said Abbas first had to issue a presidential decree to provide a framework for the early polls. After that, voter rolls would need some 90 days to be updated. Abbas had earlier in his speech called for a political solution to resolve the crisis but made clear he had the power to sack the 9-month-old Hamas government, which has struggled to function under the weight of the Western aid embargo. Fatah activists in Gaza and the West Bank broke into celebrations when Abbas issued the election call, firing automatic weapons into the air. Gunmen from Hamas and Abbas's Fatah faction clashed hours later in Gaza and at least six people were wounded, witnesses said. They said the rivals exchanged fire with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. Internal Palestinian tensions are at their highest in a decade after the collapse of months of talks between the Hamas Islamist movement and Fatah on forging a unity cabinet. Hamas accused Abbas of launching a coup and said the president had no authority to call early elections. Some Hamas officials directed unprecedented vitriolic attacks at Abbas. The movement's leaders said they would never allow early elections to be held but did not say how. One Hamas official who declined to be named said the speech by the normally cautious Abbas had shocked the faction. A senior Abbas aide, Saeb Erekat, said elections could not be held before the middle of next year for legal and technical reasons. He said Abbas had to issue a presidential decree to provide a framework for the early polls. After that, voter rolls would need some 90 days to be updated. Current opinion polls do not indicate which faction would win elections. Abbas has also effectively put his own job on the line. Palestinian political analyst Ali Jarbawi, who met Abbas on Friday, told Reuters the president told him he would not run. Abbas wants a negotiated peace settlement with Israel. Hamas's charter calls for the Jewish state's destruction, a stance that has scuppered previous unity government talks. Hamas surprised Fatah by winning parliamentary elections in January. Abbas was elected separately in early 2005 in a presidential poll that Hamas did not contest. The Palestinian basic law, which acts as a constitution, has no provision for calling early elections. Fatah officials say Abbas can do so by issuing a presidential decree. Hamas said it would be illegal. Current opinion polls do not indicate which faction would win elections. Abbas has also effectively put his own job on the line. Palestinian political analyst Ali Jarbawi, who met Abbas on Friday, told Reuters the president told him he would not run. Abbas wants a negotiated peace settlement with Israel. Hamas's charter calls for the Jewish state's destruction, a stance that has scuppered previous unity government talks.

ITN Source | December 17, 2006

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