Fatah: Hamas thwarting reconciliation

Fatah on Monday accused Hamas of halting reconciliation by suspending voter registration in the Gaza Strip. Hamas suspended the work of the Central Election Commission on Monday, a day before it was due to start updating the electoral roll in Gaza. Fatah spokesman Fayez Abu Aita said in a statement that the party was "surprised and disappointed" by Hamas' decision, adding that Hamas had halted reconciliation as Palestinian people were waiting for the announcement of a unity government. Hamas officials said Monday that the escalation in detentions of Hamas members in the Fatah-run West Bank meant that Hamas affiliates could not register to vote, or hold party meetings to prepare for elections. Hamas leader Mahmud Zahhar accusing Fatah of planning electoral fraud. He said the Central Elections Commission was dominated by Fatah members, effectively allowing Fatah to supervise the electoral process. Meanwhile Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri complained that voter registration was not being carried out in the West Bank. But Abu Aita said the Central Elections Commission periodically updated the electoral roll in the West Bank, unlike in Gaza where the commission has not operated since 2006. The Fatah spokesman said national reconciliation was in the interest of Palestinian people and urged Hamas to allow the elections commission to work in Gaza. Electoral registration was slated as the first step to implementing the long-stalled reconciliation deal between the factions signed in May 2011. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights on Monday condemned Hamas' "unjustified and unaccepted intervention" in the elections commission's work. All political parties must maintain the CEC's independence and refrain from intervening in its work, PCHR said in a statement.