Abbas: Hamas's Executive Force must be dissolved

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Hamas-created security unit Executive Force must be dissolved as its formation was unconstitutional, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told reporters Tuesday. "As for the issue of the Executive Force," he said of the security unit set up by the Hamas government last year, "this is illegitimate and illegal. The creation of a security force requires a law, and such a law was not passed." Referring to his negotiations with Hamas on forming a new government, Abbas said: "We only agreed on dissolving the (Executive) Force, and some of its troops will join the regular security apparatus. It will not exist as an independent force." Abbas said he "felt bad" about the continuing street battles between security forces and militia loyal to Hamas and his Fatah party, which have claimed more than 30 lives in the past five days.