[Ma'an] Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, will not participate in the municipal elections announced in the West Bank until a unity deal with rival party Fatah is signed and confidence between the factions is restored, a statement said Wednesday. The Islamist movement said it would not recognize the results of any elections held without its participation, saying "The atmosphere in the West Bank does not allow fair elections under Salam Fayyad's government."
Hamas described Fayyad's government as illegal because it did "not derive legitimacy from parliament," and said the movement believed that the PA's suppression of freedoms "cast doubt on its ability to hold fair elections."
Hamas views the PA's announcement as an attempt to divert attention from the government "crimes" and scandalous dealings with Israel that were revealed in Al-Jazeera's Paleostine papers series.
The series drew on hundreds of leaked PLO documents and infuriated the government in Ramallah.
Muhammad Al-Madani, a member of the ruling Fatah's main body, told Ma'an Tuesday evening that the Paleostinian leadership planned to hold local elections in the summer and general elections by September.
Saying the PA is adamant about holding local elections this year on July 17, Al-Madani says there are several suggestions including amendments to the basic law due to the lack of reconciliation.
"It is the elections committee who will decide whether or not to hold elections in case Hamas oppose them," he said. "The situation in Paleostine can't remain subordinate to Hamas' whims."
Al-Madani said the PA would meet in Ramallah Wednesday to discuss the issue.