Palestine: Hamas & Fatah Battle Over Legitimacy of Legislative Council

On Monday, Hamas and Fatah officials exchanged accusations and condemnations over the status of the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Legislative Council.

According to the Palestinian basic law, the four-year term for the PLC ends on Monday. Hamas, which won elections in Gaza in January 2006, declares that until a new election is held, the council is still legal. Fatah insists that there must be an immediate election to have a legal council.

Azzam al-Ahmad, head of Fatah party block in the parliament, said in a press statement: "According to the Palestinian basic constitution, al-Dewik is not anymore the speaker of the council. The only person who is authorized to call...a special session for the parliament is President Mahmoud Abbas."

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On the other hand, Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas movement's spokesman, told Xinhua that " the current parliament will be legal until new elections are held and the new elected legislatures do the sworn-in", adding "Hamas is not afraid of holding the elections, but only after ending the current division and reconciliation."

Zuhri, indeed, went one step further: "The problem is not whether the parliament is legal or illegal, because according to the law, it is legal until the new elections are held. But the problem is with Abbas, who is not anymore representing the Palestinians after his mandate expired."