PNA may hold municipal elections only in West Bank: PM

The Prime Minister of the Palestinian consensus government, Rami Hamdallah, warned on Sunday that municipal elections might be held only in the West Bank, excluding the Gaza Strip.

Hamdallah informed reporters that the Islamic Hamas movement ruling the Gaza Strip was given a week's ultimatum notice to declare whether it will participate in the coming municipal elections or not.

"In the event Hamas refuses to participate in the municipal elections, we may hold the elections only in the West Bank," Hamdallah told reporters in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

He elaborated by saying that after consulting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian factions, "The Hamas movement was given a week's ultimatum to answer whether it will join or not."

Hamdallah revealed that his government will take its final decision during its weekly session held on Tuesday, adding "if Hamas refuses, then we will hold the elections only in the West Bank."

The last West Bank and Gaza Strip municipal elections were held in 2005, after which Hamas seized control of the coastal enclave.

Subsequently, the 2011 municipal councils elections were only held in the West Bank.

Discord between Hamas and the Palestinian leadership, represented by President Abbas, plus the consensus government, has been ongoing for over 10 years and efforts to resolve the disconnect have so far been in vain. Endit