RAMALLAH, March 6, 2012 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) Tuesday denounced an attempt by a group of Hamas journalists in Gaza to hold separate elections from the one the PJS is planning for this weekend.

It said in a statement that while it was agreed to hold the PJS elections on Friday in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip to elect the new board members, yet the Gaza-based Hamas journalists announced that the day to hold elections will be March 18.

The syndicate said this act will augment division between the West Bank and Gaza Strip while efforts are underway on the national level to end the division started in 2007.

The PJS held Hamas fully responsible for the safety of the journalists who are going to participate in the Friday elections.

Gaza journalists who want to participate in the PJS elections will do so secretly through electronic methods in order to allow them to vote freely and guarantee their safety.

More than 1100 registered journalists from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip will elect the 63 board members, who in turn will name the executive board.

M.H./M.S.