Abbas Mulls Early Palestinian Elections

Palestinian men raise their arms as they approach Israeli soldiers, not seen, on the Israeli side of the Erez Crossing, as they try to flee the Gaza Strip, Thursday, June 21, 2007. Hundreds of men, women and children rushed to the crossing after the Hamas takeover, among them Fatah loyalists who feared they'd be harmed by Hamas, despite the militants' offer of amnesty. By Thursday, the passage, rank with the stench of urine and garbage, was nearly empty after it became clear that a mass exit to the West Bank was not approved. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) (Emilio Morenatti - AP)

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- In his bitter wrangling with Hamas over legitimacy, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is considering calling presidential and legislative elections to strengthen his position, a top aide said Thursday.

However, elections could only be held in the West Bank while Gaza remains under Hamas rule, further deepening the split between the two territories. One Hamas spokesman hinted the Islamic militants might try to disrupt voting in the West Bank.

In Ramallah, Abbas won backing from the PLO for his most recent steps against Hamas _ throwing it out of the government, outlawing its militias and forming an emergency Cabinet of moderates in response to the militant group's violent takeover of Gaza.

The PLO Central Council also asked Abbas to prepare new presidential and legislative elections.

An Abbas adviser, Yasser Abed Rabbo, said the Palestinian leader "will work to conduct presidential and legislative elections in the West Bank and Gaza." Asked about holding elections in Gaza, Abed Rabbo said: "Gaza is part of the homeland."

A poll Thursday indicated that 75 percent of Palestinians support new elections in the wake of Hamas' seizure of Gaza. Hamas came to power in January 2006 parliamentary elections, while Abbas, from Fatah, was elected separately a year earlier.

Although largely inactive in recent years, the PLO considers itself the sole representative of the Palestinian people and can bestow legitimacy or take it away. Its decision effectively sidelined the Hamas-controlled parliament, which normally would be asked to approve a new government but has been paralyzed since Israel's roundup of most Hamas legislators.

Hamas is not a member of the PLO, which is dominated by Fatah. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed the PLO's decisions as "illegal and illegitimate."

Underscoring Hamas' increasing isolation, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced he will host a regional peace summit Monday with Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Abbas will call for a resumption of peace talks with Israel, arguing that only progress toward Palestinian statehood can serve as a true buffer against Hamas, said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

However, the goodwill toward Abbas won't change the main fallout from Hamas' overthrow of Fatah in Gaza: splitting Palestinians into a Hamas-controlled Gaza and a West Bank with Fatah in charge. That is sure to complicate efforts to forge a peace deal that would establish a Palestinian state.

The PLO body also asked Abbas to change the electoral system.