Roundup: PNA municipal elections only in West Bank due to Hamas opposition

The Palestinian consensus government's cabinet announced its decision to hold the municipal councils' elections only in the West Bank on Tuesday.

The Gaza Strip has been excluded from holding the elections over severe differences with the Islamic Hamas movement which currently rules the coastal enclave.

The cabinet's official statement said that municipal elections will be held only in the West Bank on May 13 and the Gaza Strip's elections will be postponed, adding "the decision was based on the Palestinian law of electing municipal councils."

"The government wishes to convey its regret over Hamas's rejection of holding the elections in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip simultaneously," said the statement, adding that "Hamas's stance deprives the Gazan population from practicing its right to vote."

Hussein el-A'raj, minister of municipal affairs, told Voice of Palestine Radio station that the government reached its final decision after failing to receive any positive response from Palestinian factions and civil society organizations, adding, "Hamas's refusal to hold the elections will not serve our interests."

"It's Hamas's right not to participate in the elections or to boycott them; however it does not have the right to prevent the Gaza Strip population from practicing its right to vote," he said, adding the government has decided that it will wait another four weeks to see what Hamas's final decision will be.

Yousef al-Mahmoud, consensus government spokesman, said in an emailed press statement that Hamas's refusal to hold the municipal elections in the Gaza Strip exacerbates the internal divide and obstructs internal reconciliation efforts.

Hamas's movement leaders announced earlier that they oppose holding the municipal elections "because the Palestinian National Authority and its government did not commit to the previously reached and signed reconciliation agreements."

In 2007, Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip following weeks of internal fighting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's security forces.

The latest parliamentary, municipal and presidential elections held throughout all Palestinian territories were in 2005 and 2006.

Last week, Rami Hamdallah, prime minister of the Palestinian government, stated that his government gave Hamas a week's ultimatum notice to deliberate and reconsider allowing the elections to be held in the Gaza Strip, irrespective of whether Hamas will participate or not.

Hamas spokesman Abdulatif al-Qanou'a told Xinhua in Gaza that the decision to hold the municipal elections only in the West Bank, excluding the Gaza Strip, "will inflame the internal split," adding "Hamas is not afraid to participate in the elections, however it wants the elections and previously reached and signed agreements to be taken seriously."

"West Bank security forces have harassed Hamas members and activists, and these provocations stonewall holding elections in both territories," he said, adding "We asked that these provocations end so we can cooperate in accordance with our joint national interests."

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine criticized in an emailed press statement the Palestinian government's decision "because it intensifies over 10 years of political and geographical discord," adding "we call on both sides to end their disputes and pay attention to our people's best interests."

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission announced that technically, it is ready to supervise the municipal elections only in the West Bank as decided by the Palestinian government.

Its statement added "We hope the elections will be held in the Gaza Strip very soon."

"The commission hopes that the crisis will soon be resolved through peaceful dialogue between Palestinian factions," it said, adding "the commission seeks to cooperate with all Palestinian powers and factions in order to overcome this crisis, end discords, hold the elections as well as reach consensus among Palestinians." Endit