Hamas leader in Jericho Shaker Emara slammed the Palestinian Authority government for its intent to exclude the blockaded Gaza Strip from the local election process.
Emara said holding elections in the West Bank only will deepen the national rift.
Referring to a decision by the Palestinian government run by Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah Emara said such unilateral steps have dangerous repercussions on the socio-political scene.
He added that any attempt to exclude Gaza from the electoral process will only deepen national division and trigger internal crises.
He compared al-Hamdallah’s decision to the Israeli blockade on Gaza saying both aim to tighten the noose around Gaza’s neck.
“Hamas does not refuse to hold elections; it refuses the monopolization of decision-making. There can never be such a thing as successful elections without a real partnership” added the Hamas leader.
Emara called for serious efforts to hold national elections in an atmosphere of transparency democracy and consensus.
“However Hamas believes that at the time being the legal and political atmosphere has not been set up to that very end” he further stated.
