'How can Abbas call elections and continue unity talks?'
Published today (updated) 24/10/2009 18:18
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=234607

Bethlehem - Ma'an - PFLP politbureau member Maher At-Taher, criticized
President Mahmud Abbas' choice to call elections and simultaneously cling to
reconciliation talks with Hamas.

At-Taher made the comments Saturday, following the Friday night announcement
by Abbas that elections would be held on 24 January, and a Saturday speech
wherein Abbas announced that negotiations with Hamas had lead to a dead end.

While the PFLP official offered no preference from his party as to whether
or not talks should continue, he also made no condemnation of Abbas' late
Friday night issue of a presidential decree that initiated the elections
sequence set to culminate in a late-January vote.

At-Taher refuted claims by Hamas that the decree was illegal, calling it
"constitutional," but worrying it was being used to solve a problem it could
not. "The fact is that there is an authority in Gaza and another authority
in Ramallah, there's a deep division in the Palestinian arena and there can't
be elections without the national reconciliation," he said.

The PFLP official demanded more effort be expended to return to
comprehensive dialogue so the division can end and elections go forward
successfully.