GAZA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hamas, ruler of the Gaza Strip, announced on Tuesday evening that it agrees to hold general elections in the Palestinian territories as long as they are "100 percent proportional."

The announcement was made by the Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in a news briefing after his meetings in Gaza with Hanna Nasser, chairman of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC).

"Hamas will join the elections because it is one of the ways to get out of the current Palestinian impasse, end the internal split and establish a Palestinian system based on partnership," Haniyeh told reporters.

He vowed that his movement will respect the results of the elections, stressing that the Palestinian elections must be held in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

Earlier in the day, Hamas leaders refused to hand over Nasser a written "positive" response on holding the parliamentary elections in the Palestinian territories.

The postponement came in protest of the Palestinian Authority police's repression of a rally in Ramallah that showed support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, according to Sallah all-Bardaweel, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza.

On Tuesday, Sami Abu Diak, a Palestinian prisoner who suffered from cancer, died in an Israeli jail, outraging the Palestinians who accused Israel of depriving the Palestinian prisoners of medical treatment.

Hussein al-Sheikh, a member of Fatah Central Committee, accused Hamas of finding excuses to shirk the election.

A CEC delegation headed by Nasser arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday and met on Tuesday with Hamas leaders in order to get a positive written response to holding parliamentary elections in the Palestinian territories.

"Hamas doesn't oppose issuing a presidential decree for setting up a date for the elections but they must be 100 percent proportional elections," said Hamas in a letter.

The letter also said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas must call for holding a comprehensive national conference to agree on the general principles of the elections once he issues the presidential decree.

Hamas also reaffirmed in the letter the necessity of a dialogue to arrange the Palestinian National Council in a way that guarantees full representation for all Palestinians.

Hamas and Abbas earlier agreed to hold first the parliamentary elections in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem and then the presidential and the National Council elections.

The last parliamentary elections were held in the Palestinian territories in January 2006, when Hamas movement won an overwhelming majority in the Palestinian Authority Legislative Council.

In 2005, Abbas won the presidential elections that were also held in the Palestinian territories. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)