NABLUS, March 12, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas announced on Saturday, March 12, vying in the legislative election, scheduled for July 17, for the first time.

“Given its interest in reinforcing Palestinian unity at this time, and the strong building of Palestinian institutions and achievements of real comprehensive national reform, Hamas has taken the decision to participate in the elections,” Mohammad Ghazal, a Hamas leader, told a press conference.

He said the decision “was taken after a comprehensive consultation that was held by all branches of the movement including those in and outside Palestine.”

Ghazal said his movement’s decision is not governed by the 1993 interim Oslo peace accords.

“The Oslo accords belong now in the past and things have greatly changed since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada,” he added.

Hamas believes the autonomy accords can no longer serve as a springboard for the election because Israel failed to comply with its terms and conditions.

The new legislative election will choose a parliament to replace the one chosen in a 1996 ballot, which was boycotted by Hamas.

Well-placed Palestinian sources told IslamOnline.net that Hamas’s decision was taken after marathon talks with the movement’s leaders inside and outside the occupied territories and in prisons.

“The thorough discussions touched on the pros and cons of the participation in the parliamentary election,” they added.

Hamas made a strong showing in the municipal election earlier this year, winning 30 percent of all seats in the West Bank and a majority of seats in the Gaza Strip.

In deciding to compete in the legislative election, Hamas will join the political mainstream to make its voice heard.

“Hamas wants to underline its key role on the political landscape,” the Palestinian sources, who requested anonymity, said.

They added that the inalienable rights of the Palestinians and resistance until the Israeli occupation is swept away are high on the movement’s platform.

IOL’s correspondents says that the decision was not surprising but rather expected as Hamas has been pressed for a fixed election date.

Khaled Mashal, Hamas politburo chief, told a Qatar-hosted conference on February 25 that peaceful resistance is the only way for the Muslim nation to get out of its current dilemma.

Mahmoud Al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, signaled Friday, March 11, that the movement wanted to fight corruption and serve the Palestinians if it made it to the legislature.

“We don’t have materialistic aspirations…We don’t need handsome salaries or brand new cars; but all we want is to help set up a government that would fight corruption and build new homes for the Palestinians,” Zahar told a Hamas festival in Gaza.

Zahar further vowed to continue resistance operations if the demands of the resistance factions were met.

“The Al-Qassam Brigades [Hamas’s armed wing] will not give up arms until Palestine is liberated,” he averred.