Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh says his organization is ready to hold general elections for the Palestinian Authority parliament and presidency. Haniyeh told a Monday news conference in Gaza that Hamas was not afraid of a campaign and would respect election results. He called the elections a positive step on the path to restoring national unity and the restructuring of the Palestinian home that has suffered from fragmentation and division since 2007.
Hdaniyeh met Sunday night with Nasser Hanna, who heads the election committee, and was instructed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to prepare the ground for a general election for parliament, for the first time since 2006.