Palestinian leader Abbas announces elections

Article excerpt

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority's aging leader, announced plans for presidential and legislative elections after two decades of authoritarian rule. Abbas, now 88, has governed by decree since 2007, when the previous ballot fractured Palestinian politics and Hamas took control of Gaza. The announcement arrives amid intense international pressure over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and comes as Abbas faces criticism from younger Palestinians who see him as out of touch. Elections have not occurred in the West Bank or Gaza since 2006, making this a potentially seismic shift, if Abbas follows through.