Palestinian brands Hamas 'rogue government' in Gaza, plans ouster from West Bank
RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority plans to purge Hamas
members from West Bank government.
Officials said the PA was drafting measures with the Palestinian
Liberation Organization that would expel any Hamas member from public office
in the West Bank, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the campaign was meant as a response to Hamas's
refusal to form a national unity government and agree to the PA return to
the Gaza Strip.
"Until now, we have respected the elections of all Hamas members,
despite the rogue regime in the Gaza Strip," an official said. "Now, that
Hamas shows no interest in reconciliation and has removed all PA officials
from the Gaza Strip, we will do the same in the West Bank."
The PA and PLO have discussed the expulsion of Hamas members from the
Palestinian Legislative Council, where Hamas won a majority in elections in
2006. Under the plan, the PA would transfer authority of the PLC to the
PLO's Palestinian National Council, dominated by the ruling Fatah movement.
PNC chairman Salim Zanoun said the first stage of the plan would be
approved in December 2009. On Nov. 15, Zanoun told an audience in the West
Bank city of Nablus that the authority of the PLC would be transferred to
the PLO's Central Council. He said the council would then draft legislation
without Hamas interference.
Officials said the plan was meant to circumvent PA elections called by
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas for January 2010. Hamas has warned that it would
not allow such elections to take place in the Gaza Strip, which it has
controlled since 2007.
