Hamas vows to bar elections in Gaza

[Swede]

Islamic Hamas movement vowed on Wednesday to prevent the organization of Palestinian elections in the Gaza Strip, in response to President Mahmoud Abbas' insistence on holding them on Jan. 24, 2010.

The Interior Ministry of the deposed Hamas government in Gaza said that the ministry would prevent the elections in Gaza, whether presidential or legislative, and also bar the Central Elections Committee (CEC), which has five offices in Gaza, from acting.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/28/content_12352003.htm

[Howardx]

1. what got left out

"The Interior Ministry rejects the elections because "they were declared by a figure who doesn't have the right to declare and because they were planned to be held without reaching reconciliation," it said in a statement."

[IndianaGreen]

2. Abbas's term expired months ago

Typical Palestinian FUBAR

[azurnoir]

3. (Marwan) Barghouthi: Unity deal needed before elections

“Elections can’t be held before rivalry comes to an end,” said Barghouthi who is serving life sentence in an Israeli prison. The popular leader however blamed Hamas for the current impasse for their refusal to sign Egypt’s latest proposal for Palestinian unity.

Abbas decreed that elections be held in January, a step that Hamas said should be delayed until after a deal is signed.

According to the PA Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Qaraqe, Barghouthi told him during a visit to Israel’s Hadareim prison, “National unity, and protection of the Palestinian political system are our compass toward completing our national duties. This is far more important than all partisan and individual interests.”

He added, according to Qaraqe, “As Palestinians, and as prisoners, our top priority is ending Israeli occupation of our lands, and to reach our dream of liberty and independence. This necessitates ending the political and geographic division which resulted from the military coup Hamas staged in the Gaza Strip.”

Speaking about Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, Barghouthi said, “The rivalry has negatively affected prisoners because it gave the Israeli government a golden opportunity to inflict more oppressive measures against prisoners. Rivalry also helped the Israelis with their settlement activities.”

Barghouthi said the decree issued by President Abbas calling for elections on 24 January 2010, was constitutional and legal. “It was a democratic and multi-political procedure in which all the Palestinian people partake in building Palestinian political system,” he added.


http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=235588

the entire article is worth a read I only posted the part that related to the OP he has more to say