Ramallah, West Bank, June 4, SPA -- Palestinian leader MahmoudAbbas on Saturday called off upcoming parliamentary elections, The Associated Press reported. Abbas, announcing the delay from his headquarters inRamallah, said a new date would be set after discussionswith the Palestinian legislature and rival politicalfactions, such as Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas group said today that Abbas'decision to postpone legislative elections was "a violationof a cease-fire agreement." "Hamas rejects the decision to call off the election,"said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "We consider this decisionas a violation for all the Palestinian understandings andnational agreements." But Abu Zuhri said Abbas' decision "might harm the credibility of relations" between the Palestinian Authority and rival factions. Abu Zuhri accused Abbas of making his decision without any input from the group, and said Abbas ordered the delaybecause the ruling Fatah party is not prepared for theelection, which had been scheduled July 17. On its part, Islamic Jihad, another group called for the Palestinians to strengthen national unity. "We hope this decision will not harm the process ofdemocracy," said the group's top leader in Gaza, NasserAzzam.--SPA1346 Local Time 1046 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/267360