HAMAS READY TO SWEEP ELECTIONS

...IF THE P.A. DOESN'T CANCEL THEM.

Hamas Talks of Possibly Forming Government (A.P.)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - The militant Islamic Hamas group spoke openly for the first time Saturday about the possibility of forming the next Palestinian government after this month's parliamentary elections. Hamas is expected to deliver a major drubbing to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, which has dominated Palestinian politics for four decades. But Hamas has never directly said it might agree to form a government.

During a campaign visit to families of people killed or taken prisoner in the past five years of conflict with Israel, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar was asked if the atmosphere were ripe for Hamas to form a government that would not deal with Israel, Hamas reported on its Web site.

"Yes. We are running for the Legislative Council to put an end to the vestiges of Oslo," Zahar said, referring to the Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians of the early 1990s.
Hamas' popularity comes as Fatah has fallen into disfavor because of corruption and lawlessness on Palestinian streets.

The elections are scheduled for Jan. 25, but there is pressure on Abbas to postpone them for a second time.

Anarchy and the PA Elections - Danny Rubinstein
The ones responsible for the lawlessness in the territories are affiliated with the Palestinian security services and the Fatah movement. In the Palestinian street, they understand that this is no coincidence. The popular interpretation is that this is intentional and organized chaos whose goal is to generate riots that will lead to the cancellation of the parliamentary elections. There is serious doubt that the elections will take place in the end. Nearly the entire world does not want elections that Hamas will win. (Ha'aretz)