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Hamas Condemns Palestinian Election Scheduled for January 2010
October 29, 2009 | Printer Friendly

On October 25, Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree scheduling the next Palestinian election for January 24, 2010.  The proposed January election will decide both parliamentary and presidential appointments.  Voice of America reports that voting will take place in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, but the Palestinian Islamic group, Hamas, has declared that citizens should abstain from participating in the January election.  Hamas ruled the proposed election illegal due to their exclusion in the decision to schedule the election in addition to the fact that Abbas’ term expired in January 2009.  BBC News reports that Hamas has threatened that anyone who participates in the election in Gaza will be “dealt with by the ministry or by other means.”  Chinese news outlet Xinhua reports that the Fatah party has declared Abbas will move ahead with the polls regardless of Hamas’ demands, stating that a presidential decree cannot be reversed.

Abbas, a member of the Fatah party, has been a rival to Hamas since his party was forced out of Gaza after Hamas claimed power in 2007.  While Abbas’ presidential term did expire, he remained in office because new elections did not occur.  In the 2006 election, Hamas defeated the Fatah party.  The two groups then agreed to a power-sharing arrangement, which subsequently ended due to ongoing power struggles that resulted in the government’s collapse.  Abbas, who has identified Hamas as obtaining power through a coup, stated that he is required by the Palestinian constitution to hold an election. 

Xinhua also reports that Hamas stated they are not opposed to reconciling with Fatah; however, they recently refused to sign an Egyptian proposal that would put them on the path towards agreement.  Finally, Hamas also stated that they would like to settle their division with the Palestinian government before another election is held.

Sources:
BBC: Hamas in Gaza elections warning
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8330743.stm

Voice of America: Abbas's Call for Elections Deepens Palestinian Divisions
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-24-voa19.cfm

Xinhua: Fatah official: Abbas' elections decree final
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/25/content_12325377.htm