GAZA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ismail Haniyeh, the politburo chief of Hamas, said on Sunday that his Islamic movement demands that the results of the Palestinian general elections, if held, must be respected.
Haniyeh told a news briefing following a meeting with representatives of Palestinian factions and political powers in Gaza, saying "there is a national consensus to hold elections. So we demand respect for its results."
"The elections should have been held under Palestinian reconciliation, a unity government, an agreement to hold them, and a national council," Haniyeh added.
He said that Hamas showed "unprecedented flexibility" for holding the elections in the Palestinian territories, adding "we seek to end the division, restore unity, and build a Palestinian political system based on partnership at all levels."
The top leader of Hamas movement said that in order to make the electoral process successful, "issuing the presidential decree before holding the national meeting will not be an obstacle for holding the elections."
Haniyeh added that Hamas has accepted President Mahmoud Abbas' demand to hold the parliamentary elections first, and then the elections for president and the national council of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in three months.
"We have dealt with the elections with high flexibility and national responsibility, and made concessions in order to open the door for the elections to begin, and achieve the desired goals," he said.
However, Haniyeh demanded reactivating the Legislative Council (PLC), or the parliament of the Palestinian Authority, which has become inoperative after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip by force in 2007.
"There are requirements for holding elections, the first of which is holding them in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza in an incontrovertible and unmanageable manner, specifically in Jerusalem," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Abbas' Fatah Party welcomed Haniyeh's remarks on accepting the issuance of the presidential decree before holding a large national meeting.
"All the requirements that Haniyeh has spoken about will be discussed in the large national meeting that will be held after issuing the presidential decree," said Fayez Abu Eitta, deputy of Fatah revolutionary council Secretary General.
Hanna Nasser, chairman of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission is scheduled to visit in the Gaza Strip soon this week to carry on with his dialogue with Hamas and other factions' leaders on holding the elections.
The last parliamentary elections were held in the Palestinian territories in January 2006, where Hamas won an overwhelming majority. The presidential elections were held in 2005 and Abbas won.
