Abbas gambles on early elections

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has called for an early election to end his violent clash with Hamas, in a gamble that banks on the support of Palestinians as he seeks to weaken the Islamic militants, avoid civil war and continue peace overtures with Israel.

but yesterday Hamas accused Abbas of trying to topple its government, promised to block the election and urged supporters to take to the streets.

“This is a real coup,” said foreign minister Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas hardliner.

Later in Gaza, thousands of Hamas supporters marched in protest and 18 Palestinians were injured in clashes between the two political camps.

Hamas’ landslide election in January split the Palestinian leadership into two camps. One, led by Abbas, seeks peace with Israel; the other, led by Islamic Hamas militants, is sworn to the Jewish state’s destruction. The infighting has often degenerated into convulsions of violence, and this week, tensions reached their highest peak in years.

Abbas tried to end the power struggle by bringing Hamas into a more moderate coalition with his Fatah Party, but the Islamic group refused to pay the price he demanded – recognising Israel and renouncing violence.

“We have a crisis. We have an authority with two heads. So what do we do? Bullets or ballots?” asked Saeb Erekat, an aide to Abbas. “Abu Mazen said ballots,” he said, using Abbas’ nickname.

Across the West Bank and Gaza, streets were largely deserted as everyone watched Abbas’ 90-minute address, peppered with criticism of Hamas.

Abbas said a unity government was still the best option, but that he had despaired of persuading Hamas to enter into a coalition with Fatah.

“I ... decided to call for early presidential and parliament elections,” Abbas said from his West Bank headquarters, after outlining months of failed coalition talks.

“Let us return to the people, to hear their word, and let them be the judge.”

His aides said they expected the vote to be held by the summer. In the coming days, Abbas is to meet the Central Election Commission to hear how much time it will need to prepare. Once he issues a formal decree calling for elections, balloting must take place within three months.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair urged the international community to support Abbas, while US State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez said it was “an issue for the Palestinian people to decide through a peaceful political process”.

Russia called on the Palestinians to try to maintain unity.

In an immediate step towards parliamentary and presidential elections, Abbas announced he has appointed new Fatah leaders.

Fatah officials said the party’s younger leaders, who had long clamoured for a role in decision-making, would now be given a chance. The party’s old guard had refused to step aside, a key reason the movement remained in disarray after its election defeat.

Abbas also said he had revived the Palestine Liberation Organisation negotiating department, signalling he would pursue peace talks with Israel.

Hamas leaders said the speech’s confrontational tone made it clear Abbas was no longer a partner.

“Abu Mazen is not part of the solution anymore. He is part of the problem now,” said Ahmed Yousef, senior adviser to prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.

Yousef said Hamas would try to block the election. “We will challenge him everywhere,” he said.

Elections could be stripped of legitimacy if boycotted by Hamas and other political factions.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a smaller PLO faction that had participated in parliament elections in January, said it rejected Abbas’ call for early elections.

And several Palestinian faction leaders based in Syria also rejected Abbas’ decision.