Hamas rejects Abbas decree to postpone legislative elections

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) rejected on Saturday a Palestinian presidential decree to postpone the legislative elections due on July 17.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told reporters that his movement reiterates its rejection to the decision to postpone the elections.

Terming the decision as "unilateral", Zuhri said "it is a violation to all understandings reached in Cairo between Palestinian factions and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)."

"Far away from debates and discussions with other factions, the decision is made in respond to some parties' own considerations, especially those of Fatah movement," the spokesman said.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas issued on Saturday a presidential decree to postpone the legislative election, but a final date is not decided.

The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) approved the new electoral law in mid-May, but Abbas has yet to endorse the bill.

Abbas wants the 132 parliamentary seats to be elected half through proportional representation and half through constituencies.

However, according to the bill passed by the PLC, two thirds of the seats will be elected through proportional representation and one third allocated to constituencies.

The postponement of the election will also give Abbas time to prepare for a possible tough challenge to his ruling Fatah movement posed by Hamas, whose surging street popularity has rendered it a strong showing in the local elections.

Palestinian election committee said it needs two months to prepare for the elections after Abbas approved the bill.

Source: Xinhua