Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who last week said he didn’t want to run for reelection, may get to stay in office without a single ballot being cast.

The Palestinian Election Commission ruled late last week that January’s scheduled vote should be put off because of opposition from the Islamic militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and is a rival of Abbas’ Fatah faction.

Abbas had raised international concern when he declined to run for another term, as his departure would have thrown peace efforts into turmoil. Abbas suggested his decision was based on frustration over a 10-month stalemate in Israel-Palestinian peacemaking, but now it appears he may have been signaling his need for more backing from the United States against Israel, since Hamas was expected to reject a vote anyway.

The Palestinian Election Commission blamed Gaza’s Hamas rulers for forcing the postponement. — ap