The Islamic Jihad Movement stated Friday that it will not participate in new presidential and legislative elections scheduled to be held in May next year.Nafeth Azzam, member of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Jihad stated that the movement “reiterates its stance regarding not participating in the elections as they are based on the Oslo peace agreement with Israel, an agreement the movement never recognized”.
The Islamic Jihad did not participate in the elections that were held in 1996 and 2006.
Hamas, on the other side, participated in the 2006 elections and achieved an overwhelming victory, but Israeli shunned the results and arrested most of the legislators, minister and local council members.
Azzam told the Maan News Agency that the movement will only participate in the elections when they are “not related to any agreement with the Israeli occupation”, and added that the Islamic Jihad will likely participate in the elections of the National Council.
On Thursday, Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and Hamas’ Political Bureau Chief, Khaled Mashal, held a meeting in Cairo and affirmed the implementation of the National Unity Agreement, in addition to reaching an agreement to hold the National and Legislative election in May 2012.
