<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Hamas rejects PLO decision to hold&nbsp;elections]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<table width="100%" align="center">
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<td><span class="PublishedDate">[ 					12/02/2011 &#8211; 04:25 PM ] </span></td>
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<p style="font-size:10pt;">GAZA, (PIC)&#8211; Hamas announced  rejection of a decision passed by the Palestine Liberation Organization  (PLO) to hold presidential and legislative elections, saying the move  will ”consolidate division” and is not in the interest of the  Palestinians.</p>
<p style="font-size:10pt;">&#8220;The decision is unacceptable because Abu  Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] and Fayyad lack the legitimacy and competency to  hold or host such elections,&#8221; Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told the  AFP.</p>
<p style="font-size:10pt;">”We do not recognize the elections and  will not participate in them &#8230; because they consolidate division and  will not be in the interest of the Palestinians,” he said.</p>
<p style="font-size:10pt;">Elections for the presidency, legislature or local councils &#8220;must be the product of reconciliation,&#8221; Barhoum added.</p>
<p style="font-size:10pt;">&#8220;The PLO in its present state does not  represent the Palestinians &#8230; the organization with its weak structure  is used to pass such policies, and is hijacked and controlled by Fatah,&#8221;  he went on to say.</p>
<p style="font-size:10pt;">Another Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri,  for his part, described the PLO move as a &#8220;political farce&#8221; designed to  cover the PA&#8217;s recently leaked scandals under the presidency of Mahmoud  Abbas.</p>
<p style="font-size:10pt;">&#8220;Regarding its timing, the call aims at  covering Abbas&#8217;s scandals relating to accredited Al-Jazeera documents  and creating dispute over elections to divert Palestinian public opinion  from the scandals,&#8221; Abu Zuhri told our correspondent.</p>
<p style="font-size:10pt;">&#8220;It is impossible to hold elections  without Hamas approval, so we are not facing a serious announcement but a  political farce to cover crimes and at the same time make Abbas look  good. They know this better than anyone else,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p style="font-size:10pt;">An official from the PLO&#8217;s Executive  Committee announced Saturday the organization&#8217;s decision to hold  presidential and legislative elections in the Palestinian territories in  the few coming months.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7onithEGvojtAJrPzgsauwrx1tB9gigecW829k9GWhQagNsSrhzYj3WEBDGH0IA%2fHAvJogUIHZJLUsZMDL1JKya3MTdzeqfVdm08h23ntIag%3d">Hamas rejects PLO decision to hold elections</a>.</p>
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