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by Khaled Abu Toameh • July 1,
2019 at 5:00 am
- New elections [the
initiative of Mahmoud Abbas] are certain to result in the
creation of another Hamas-controlled entity in the West Bank.
The Palestinians would end up with two Hamas-run mini-states,
one in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip.
- If Fatah members are
being systematically targeted and tortured by Hamas for
expressing their views, how will they ever be allowed to
conduct election campaigns that challenge the rulers of Hamas
in the Gaza Strip?
- "Hamas is not
afraid of elections. In fact, it's Abbas who's afraid of
elections because public opinion polls have shown that he and
Fatah will be defeated by Hamas. Despite our mistakes, Hamas
remains the conscience of the Palestinians because it does not
conduct security coordination [with Israel] and does not steal
the money of the people." — Mohammed Nazzal, senior
leader, Hamas.
Pictured:
Gunmen from the Palestinian Fatah faction occupy the Palestinian
Legislative Council building in Ramallah and fire shots in the air,
on January 28, 2006, in protest of Hamas' victory over their party
in elections held three days prior. (Photo by Zharan Hammad/Getty
Images)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says
that he is ready to hold long-overdue presidential and
parliamentary elections, and has even instructed the Palestinian
Central Elections Commission to start preparing for the vote.
Abbas seems to be taking quite a gamble. There is a
real possibility that his rivals in Hamas will manage to push him
off the presidential throne he has been occupying so persistently
for the past fourteen years.
Hamas leaders have responded by welcoming the
initiative to hold new elections. The leaders say they are not
afraid of elections: they are confident that their movement will
win.
Hamas leaders are clearly hoping that if and when
new elections are held, they would facilitate its takeover of the
Palestinian Authority (PA) presidency and the Palestinian
Legislative Council.
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