Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday called off upcoming parliamentary elections, The Associated Press reported. Abbas, announcing the delay from his headquarters in Ramallah, said a new date would be set after discussions with the Palestinian legislature and rival political factions, such as Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas group said today that Abbas' decision to postpone legislative elections was "a violation of a cease-fire agreement." "Hamas rejects the decision to call off the election," said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "We consider this decision as a violation for all the Palestinian understandings and national agreements." But Abu Zuhri said Abbas' decision "might harm the credibility of relations" between the Palestinian Authority and rival factions. Abu Zuhri accused Abbas of making his decision without any input from the group, and said Abbas ordered the delay because the ruling Fatah party is not prepared for the election, which had been scheduled July 17. On its part, Islamic Jihad, another group called for the Palestinians to strengthen national unity. "We hope this decision will not harm the process of democracy," said the group's top leader in Gaza, Nasser Azzam.
