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Poll call escalates Gaza violence

by asdf Sun Dec 17th, 2006 at 11:19:57 AM EST

The Gaza Strip has seen more clashes a day after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called for early elections to end an economic and security crisis.

Mortars were fired at Mr Abbas's office in Gaza City, and a 19-year-old woman was killed as rival Fatah and Hamas supporters clashed in the streets. A Hamas minister's convoy was attacked, as was a presidential guard base.

Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, who heads a Hamas-led government, has said new elections could incite further unrest. "The Palestinian government rejects the call for holding early parliamentary elections because it is not constitutional and may lead to a large disturbance in the Palestinian territory," said Mr Haniya.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6187639.stm

Could someone explain this to me? I thought that one of the advantages of parliamentary style government was that you could call early elections. How does the Palestinian system work? I'm asking about the mechanics of the political system.


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I would think that a group that agrees with a political solution would welcome a do-over of the previous elections, given the resulting chaos...
by asdf on Sun Dec 17th, 2006 at 11:21:19 AM EST
Abbas has no constitutional power to call any early election. A new government was elected by a huge majority in January. However, the West, Israel and its ally Abbas and the highly corrupt Fatah mafia never liked this result, so a little coup was needed either constitutional or by force of arms. That is how the Palestinian system works. The votes of the people do not count. The desires of the West, Israle and its puppets are all that matter.  
by observer393 on Mon Dec 18th, 2006 at 03:58:52 AM EST


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