Tiny Minority of Extremists and Where Does Abbas Really Stand updates, from AP, with thanks to RB:
NABLUS,(West Bank)–Hamas announced Saturday it would participate in the upcoming Palestinian Authority parliamentary election, a decision that could undermine Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ attempts to renew peacemaking with Israel.
In recent municipal elections in the Gaza Strip, Hamas won an overwhelming victory, as well as making gains in municipal voting in the West Bank.
A similar victory in the scheduled July parliamentary election could be a major setback for Abbas, who is trying to consolidate his Fatah movement’s power following Yasser Arafat’s November death….
Abbas said he was not surprised by Hamas’ decision, and encouraged other Palestinian factions to compete in the vote.
“I think this is a good step that we should react to positively,” he told reporters.
We think you ought to have your head examined, Mr. Abbas.