ABBAS CALLS FOR EARLY PALI ELECTIONS

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Calls for New Presidential, Parliamentary Elections (FOXNEWS)
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Saturday that he would call new presidential and parliament elections at the earliest possible date, in a dramatic and risky challenge to ruling Hamas militants.

The Hamas government, which has drawn crushing international sanctions over its militantly anti-Israel stand, accused Abbas' of carrying out a "coup" against the Palestinian people, who voted the Islamic group into power just 11 months ago. Hamas leaders, including Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, called on Abbas to resign.

Abbas' dramatic announcement — made after he despaired of persuading Hamas to form a more moderate coalition government with his own Fatah Party — further hardened the lines between the two political rivals, at a time when factional fighting threatens to escalate into civil war.

Click here to go to FOXNews.com's Mideast Center.

By putting the Palestinian political situation into limbo for the next few months, it will also paralyze any attempts to build on recent moves to revive peacemaking with Israel.

Abbas, elected separately in 2005, is taking a big political gamble by trying to end his power struggle with Hamas through new balloting. His call for early elections could intensify factional violence. The balloting could also be deprived of legitimacy if Hamas decides to boycott it.

Also, if Abbas does not run again — he has said he'd not seek another term — the moderate camp in Palestinian politics would not have a strong candidate, and could easily lose the presidential vote. His Fatah Party remains in disarray, and might lose to Hamas again in parliament elections.

Aides said the vote would be held as early as March, and that a date would be set within a week.