RAMALLAH, West Bank, 3 September 2007 — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday issued a decree making a series of changes to Palestinian election laws aimed at bolstering his Fatah party, the latest attempt by the Palestinian leader to marginalize Hamas since the group seized control of the Gaza Strip in June.
With Abbas’ decree, Palestinians will now vote solely for party lists, while district voting will be eliminated. Hamas swept parliamentary elections last year in large part because of a strong showing at the district level. The decree also requires all presidential and parliamentary candidates to recognize the Fatah-dominated Palestine Liberation Organization as the “sole, legitimate representative” of the Palestinian people.
Hamas, which is not a PLO member, condemned Abbas’ decision as illegal.
In a further blow to Hamas, the new election law calls for a runoff in presidential elections until a candidate receives an absolute majority. The change would make it far more difficult for Hamas to capitalize on divisions among secular parties.
Despite Abbas’ tough moves, it remains unclear how he can hold elections in Gaza. While he claims to be the leader of all Palestinians, Hamas remains firmly in control in Gaza and is unlikely to accept a new vote. Regular parliamentary elections aren’t scheduled until 2010. In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the changes illegal. “Early parliamentary elections are rejected...and any amendment to the law is also rejected,” he said. “Hamas objects to this policy of monopolizing decision-making and will not deal with its outcome.” Barhoum said only the Parliament, which is controlled by Hamas, has authority to change election law. But Abbas said he now holds such authority since Parliament is no longer functioning.
Israel has arrested nearly 40 Hamas lawmakers, leaving the group unable to muster the quorum needed to call a parliamentary session.
Abbas’ new government has been welcomed in the West and by Israel. Abbas has held a series of meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with the goal of drawing up a framework for a future peace deal ahead of a US-sponsored conference in November.
But Abbas cautioned that his talks with Olmert have a long way to go. He said if he cannot reach a “specific agreement” with Israel by November, the conference “will be a failure.” Abbas spoke at a news conference with the visiting European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. “It will be a very intense time and we hope the upcoming period will be constructive and positive toward advancing the peace,” Solana said.
In Gaza, meanwhile, Hamas continued to hold nearly 60 Fatah supporters, including 11 minors, who were arrested on Friday. Fatah has organized public rallies for the last two weeks to denounce Hamas’ takeover. Hamas accuses Fatah supporters of trying to organize a violent comeback.
Scores of Fatah supporters were snatched from the streets and their homes following the Friday rally. Hamas has ordered suspects to post bail of $240 — a hefty sum amounting to a monthly salary for many Gazans. In Ramallah, the PLO’s Executive Committee said the crackdown proves that Hamas aims “to establish a repressive fascist system.”
— With input from agencies
