Dr Mahmoud Al-Zahar, member of Hamas Political Bureau said that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas does not represent the Palestinians.  “He also does not represent Palestinian politics, economy or security,” Al-Zahar stressed, pointing out that Abu Mazen’s political programme does not benefit the Palestinians.

In an exclusive interview with Al Watan Voice, Al-Zahar said “The political programme for Abbas is opposed to the Palestinian interests in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the diaspora.”

Al-Zahar advised Abbas to let Palestinians choose their representatives through free and transparent elections.

Zahar added the best way out of the current political deadlock, is by reactivating the Palestinian parliament which is the only Palestinian institution which maintains its legitimacy according to Palestinian law, and it must be reactivated until a new parliament is elected.”

He said that the Palestinian factions should ask their representatives to attend parliamentary meetings or choose others to replace them.

The Hamas officials said that parliament “should form committees, after it is reactivated, including the formation of a government or a national committee” to run the country, stressing that “we want to start with legal issues.”

Al-Zahar said that Fatah should accept the laws which stipulate the work of the parliament because it ratified them prior to the first Palestinian parliamentary elections held in 1996 when Hamas did not participate.

He said that the parliament is the only Palestinian institution which is accepted globally because it is freely elected, while the Palestinian National Council (PNC) includes only Fatah or pro-Fatah members. “This is a reason for it to be disqualified,” he said.