Abbas, who is also chairman of the PLO, has spent months trying to resolve a political impasse with the Hamas terrorist organization which now leads the PA government.
An aide said Abbas would make a formal announcement of his plans in a speech next week. “At the end of the speech, he is going to announce that he will resort to early presidential and legislative elections," the aide said, adding that Abbas would "keep the door open” for the possibility of succeeding in building a unity government with Hamas.
Hamas has repeatedly rejected attempts to form a unity coalition which would meet the demands of the international community, namely, to formally recognize the State of Israel, renounce violence and uphold peace agreements with Israel signed by the previous PA government.
The terrorist organization immediately denounced Abbas’ decision and said he does not have the authority to call new elections. “The PLO right now is not qualified to decide on any Palestinian matter,” said Ahmed Yousef, a top aide to Hamas Chairman and PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, "because the members of the PLO executive committee right now represent only themselves and their agenda.”
As Abbas was meeting with the PLO executive board, hundreds of Fatah terrorists and PA security officers rioted in the streets in Gaza, demanding unpaid salaries and calling for the government to be dismantled.
Two PA parliament guards who were protecting Hamas legislator Ahmed Bahar were lightly injured in a shootout with demonstrators outside the Palestinian Legislative Council offices in Gaza City. The demonstrators, which included some 1,400 uniformed security and police officers, stormed into the parliament compound, shooting in the air. Hundreds of police officers also blocked main roads in Khan Younis and Rafiah, firing into the air and torching tires in the streets.
In Jenin, a PA-controlled city in Samaria, some 4,000 security officers demonstrated as well. In Judea, parents carrying babies broke into a closed medical clinic in Hevron, demanding vaccinations. The clinic was closed due to a strike by health workers who haven’t been paid for months. Medical personnel at PA government hospitals have been on strike since September. Doctors and nurses have been providing minimal services and emergency care only.
“We only want our salaries," one police officer said. "We are approaching the Eid al-Adha (Muslim Feast of Sacrifice) and we can’t afford to buy our children clothes and toys."
A number of Palestinian Authority journalists were severely beaten while they were covering the unfolding events. Journalist Zuhair Dawlah said his cell phone was grabbed and that he was beaten by several police officers.
The government has been unable to pay its 165,000 workers for months, leading to repeated riots and chaos in Gaza.
An aide said Abbas would make a formal announcement of his plans in a speech next week. “At the end of the speech, he is going to announce that he will resort to early presidential and legislative elections," the aide said, adding that Abbas would "keep the door open” for the possibility of succeeding in building a unity government with Hamas.
Hamas has repeatedly rejected attempts to form a unity coalition which would meet the demands of the international community, namely, to formally recognize the State of Israel, renounce violence and uphold peace agreements with Israel signed by the previous PA government.
The terrorist organization immediately denounced Abbas’ decision and said he does not have the authority to call new elections. “The PLO right now is not qualified to decide on any Palestinian matter,” said Ahmed Yousef, a top aide to Hamas Chairman and PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, "because the members of the PLO executive committee right now represent only themselves and their agenda.”
As Abbas was meeting with the PLO executive board, hundreds of Fatah terrorists and PA security officers rioted in the streets in Gaza, demanding unpaid salaries and calling for the government to be dismantled.
Two PA parliament guards who were protecting Hamas legislator Ahmed Bahar were lightly injured in a shootout with demonstrators outside the Palestinian Legislative Council offices in Gaza City. The demonstrators, which included some 1,400 uniformed security and police officers, stormed into the parliament compound, shooting in the air. Hundreds of police officers also blocked main roads in Khan Younis and Rafiah, firing into the air and torching tires in the streets.
In Jenin, a PA-controlled city in Samaria, some 4,000 security officers demonstrated as well. In Judea, parents carrying babies broke into a closed medical clinic in Hevron, demanding vaccinations. The clinic was closed due to a strike by health workers who haven’t been paid for months. Medical personnel at PA government hospitals have been on strike since September. Doctors and nurses have been providing minimal services and emergency care only.
“We only want our salaries," one police officer said. "We are approaching the Eid al-Adha (Muslim Feast of Sacrifice) and we can’t afford to buy our children clothes and toys."
A number of Palestinian Authority journalists were severely beaten while they were covering the unfolding events. Journalist Zuhair Dawlah said his cell phone was grabbed and that he was beaten by several police officers.
The government has been unable to pay its 165,000 workers for months, leading to repeated riots and chaos in Gaza.