Hamas: PA shows it is not serious about reconciliation

Hamas have refused Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas’s request for the group to issue written consent to carry out general elections, the Islamic movement’s spokesperson said.

“This is a delusional call,” Hamas Salah Al-Bardaweel said, “calling upon Hamas to issue a written consent on general elections gives an impression that Hamas is against carrying out the elections.” He continued: “This is false.”

Meanwhile, he called for Abbas to accept a written consent on carrying out all reconciliation terms “as one bundle”.

Last week, while in Kuwait for the Arab League meeting, Abbas called for Hamas to give him written consent to carry out the elections.

A Hamas spokesman replied to Abbas’ call: “This reveals Abbas’ real intentions. He does not want to implement all reconciliation files. He chooses a controversial file, which does not have guaranteed positive consequences if implemented alone.”

The reconciliation process covers five areas: elections, reactivating of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, reorganising it based on real and proportional partnership, forming a transitional government to prepare for National Council and parliamentary elections and to carry out social reconciliation among people.

To show his movement’s interaction with the reconciliation issue, Al-Bardaweel said the government in Gaza allowed the elections committee to start working and facilitated the course of its work.

“In order not to delude the Palestinians and the Arabs, Abbas demanded a stop to individual decisions regarding negotiations with the Israeli occupation,” Al-Bardaweel said.

He continued: “When the PA speaks about the elections in the light of its continuous fight against resistance in the West Bank and its cooperation with the Israeli occupation, it means that it is not serious. This means that it will continue arresting Hamas members as well, as it does not want social reconciliation.

“It just needs electoral competition, where it is able to forge results.”