Hamas has accused Abbas of seeking to violate his pledge and extend his
term until at least 2010. In June 2008, the PA Justice Ministry said Abbas
would remain in office until Jan. 25, 2010 when the PLC's term expires.
"The term will end according to the law," PLC deputy speaker Ahmed
Baher, a Hamas member, said. "Any interpretation or distortion of the law,
or deviation from it, constitutes a coup against the constitution."
Hamas has accused Abbas of serving the interests of Israel and the
United States. Officials pointed out that Abbas never fought Israel during
his years in the Fatah movement.
The PA has already detected Hamas efforts to destabilize the Abbas
regime. PA officials said Hamas has been organizing strikes as well as
military exercises meant to capture power in the West Bank in 2009.
"Hamas is heating up the atmosphere within Palestine against Abu Mazen
to announce, after Jan. 8, 2009, yet another stage of its coup," Hamada
Farana, a columnist with the PA-owned daily Al Ayyam, said. "At that point,
it will declare Abu Mazen's presidency no longer legitimate. "Hamas has a
specific goal — seizing power without partners."
Palestinian sources said Hamas could decide to attack the Abbas regime
over the next few months. They cited Hamas's military wing, Izzedin Kassam,
which has urged its members to resist any arrest by PA security forces in
the West Bank. About 150 Hamas members were said to remain in PA detention.
"We call upon our people and the [fighters] to defend themselves by all
available means against any attempt to arrest them by [PA] services, now
working as a unit of the Zionist army," Izzedin Kassam said on Sept. 17.
