Hamas: Abbas’ decision to cancel elections thwarted reconciliation

Fatah and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas thwarted reconciliation efforts when he cancelled the general elections, the Deputy Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau Saleh Al-Arouri said yesterday.

Speaking to Quds Press, Al-Arouri said: “All the Palestinian factions, mainly Fatah and Hamas, reached a national agreement and a comprehensive roadmap to rearrange the Palestinian house, ending the division and building a real national partnership based on election results.”

“Abbas thwarted the agreed upon national programme without even the consultation of his partners or the sponsors of the agreement when he cancelled the elections.”

On Monday, Abbas called for Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the PLO factions to return to a “serious dialogue” to build national partnership “in order to encounter all challenges and dangers facing the Palestinians and their cause.”

Abbas added: “We will undermine all conspiracies by our steadfast national unity and will protect the PLO – the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinians people – and will continue our efforts to achieve national unity.”

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