RAMALLAH, West Bank — Hamas is calling for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to schedule elections and stop waiting for Israel's approval.
Abbas has yet to issue a decree to schedule the vote, as he waits for an official response from the Israeli side on his request to allow polling stations in occupied East Jerusalem. Since he first announced in September his decision to hold presidential and parliamentary elections, Abbas has said the electoral process should include all Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.