In another sign of increased tensions between Hamas and Fatah in light of the Palestinian Authority's controversial decision to abandon a vote at the UN Human Rights Council on the Goldstone Report, the Islamic movement on Sunday warned PA President Mahmoud Abbas against unilaterally calling new elections.
According to PA laws, Abbas is supposed to declare new elections three months before the end of his term and that of the Palestinian parliament.
Hamas and Fatah were supposed to sign a "reconciliation agreement" in Cairo on the same day.
But the signing ceremony has been delayed at the request of Hamas, whose leaders made it clear that they would not be able to shake hands with Abbas following his decision to ditch the Goldstone Report.
But now that the agreement has been delayed indefinitely, Fatah leaders are pressing Abbas to unilaterally declare new elections. Some have even gone as far as demanding that Abbas ban Hamas from participating in the vote.
Members of the Fatah Central Committee strongly condemned Hamas for postponing the reconciliation ceremony and accused the movement of taking advantage of the Goldstone report "to undermine the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas."
Source: JPost
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