The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas stressed on Monday the necessity of, forcibly, imposing the right to hold elections in Jerusalem, calling for a battle in which all Palestinians participate to establish and extract this right.

Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, told Safa that “Hamas affirms the necessity of holding elections in Jerusalem, as this is a national right, and we do not acknowledge the Israeli occupation to impose any facts on the ground.”

The election process must be imposed in Jerusalem on Israel with all force, and make it a political, popular, and patriotic battle with it.

Barhoum clarified that it is not permissible for Israel to determine our compass and our national orientations, calling for work to block any path of singling out Israel in Jerusalem and imposing elections thereby all possible means.

Hamas's choice for the name of its list “Jerusalem Our Destination” is a clear and explicit title that reflects its position on the elections in Jerusalem.

The agreements between the Palestinian Liberation Authority and Israel regarding the transitional period in 1995 include a clause stipulating that elections be held in Jerusalem at post offices that include 11 polling stations.

On this basis, the Palestinians in Jerusalem were elected in the first Palestinian legislative elections in 1996, as well as the presidential elections in 2005 and the legislative elections in 2006.

The number of Palestinians in East Jerusalem is about 350,000.

President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree to hold elections in three stages this year: legislative on May 22, presidential on July 31, and the completion of the National Council on August 31.

The last elections for the Legislative Council were held in early 2006, and resulted in Hamas winning a majority, while the last presidential elections were held in 2005 and resulted in the victory of President Abbas, and the elections that will be held the third elections.