The Palestinian prime minister in the West Bank says Palestinians should hold parliament elections in the territory soon instead of waiting for elusive reconciliation with Gaza's Hamas rulers.

Salam Fayyad compared the Palestinian split - with rival governments in the West Bank and Gaza since 2007 - to the decades-long division of Germany. He suggests it would not have made sense to forgo elections in West Germany because of the split.

Fayyad's comments to reporters late Monday challenged his boss, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Abbas' Islamic militant Hamas rivals. Both have said elections should follow a unity deal, which appears out of reach.

Fayyad says Palestinians have a "strong desire for elections" in the climate of the Arab Spring, and should not be asked to wait.