Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the Palestinian legislators to drop their demand to reform the government before the elections, saying it is a waste of time to form a new government that will serve only three months, Palestinian sources reported.
The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) demanded Abbas to dismiss the government and form a new one before the legislative election slated to be held next January.
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The PLC’s demand stems from the failure of the government to end the state of lawlessness in the Palestinian territories.
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Abbas stressed that the elections will be held as scheduled on January 25, 2006.
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‘Some of you believe that I want to delay the elections, however I assure you that the elections will be held as scheduled,’ Abbas told the Palestinian lawmakers in a speech on Wednesday.
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The legislative elections were scheduled to take place last July, but it was delayed upon request by the central election committee after the PLC approved a new election law.
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The election committee said it needs more time to prepare for the elections to fit the new law.
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In his speech, Abbas set the Palestinian Authority’s priorities as to maintain calm, end the public display of weapons in the Palestinian areas and to absorb the fighters into the PA’s departments and security forces.
