Palestinian Elections Postponed Indefinitely

Palestinian elections, originally set for early next year, will nottake place on schedule.

The elections were postponed because of divisionsbetween rival Palestinian factions: the Fatah movement that controlsthe West Bank and the Islamic militant group Hamas that rules the GazaStrip.

Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ofFatah had ordered the Central Election Commission to conduct nationalelections on schedule in January. But commission chairman Hanna Nasserblamed Hamas for refusing to cooperate and forcing the postponement.

"Wehave found there are obstacles in certain areas. We have made contactswith Hamas in Gaza, we have found that this is not apossibility," he said.

Nasser said Hamas would not allow the elections to take place in Gaza.

"Andtherefore, since elections are expected to be executed in all parts ofthe West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, we have therefore taken a decisionthat the CEC cannot at present execute the decree of the President," hesaid.

Hamas ousted President Abbas and his Fatah forces fromGaza during the Palestinian civil war two years ago and does notrecognize his rule in the West Bank. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhrisays the call for elections was illegitimate.

Abu Zuhri said postponing the elections was the right decision because there is not a positive atmosphere for the vote.

PresidentAbbas had threatened not to run in the elections because of thedeadlocked peace process with Israel, but now it appears that he willremain in office. That is a relief to Israel, the West and Arab stateswhich see Mr. Abbas as a moderate alternative to Hamas.

Butthe deep internal divisions among the Palestinians pose a majorobstacle to U.S.-sponsored efforts to achieve a peace agreement. Israeland the international community shun Hamas because it refuses torenounce violence and recognize the Jewish state. Israeli, western andArab leaders admit that until the Palestinian factions reconcile, itwill be impossible to achieve the stated goal of the peace process-aviable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.