Palestine Forms Committee to Prepare Election

Ramallah, MINA – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas forms committee of Fatah Central Committee to discuss and review the process of holding elections in Palestinian territories.

“We will discuss election, preparations for holding it, and the steps that will be taken to achieve this goal,” Abbas said at an internal Fatah meeting as quoted from Al-Awsat website on Thursday, October 3.

The Member of Fatah Central Committee, Samir Al-Rifai, said the task of committee to study the election event.

Abbas is waiting for plans to hold elections in Palestinian territories, including in Israeli-occupied Jerusalem and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Two Fatah Executive Committee members Ahmad Majdalani and Wasel Abu Youssef considered the holding of elections to be the only way to end divisions and friction between Palestinian factions, especially Fatah, and Hamas.

The head of Palestinian election commission will reportedly be sent to Gaza to hold consultations with Hamas. He was assigned to make an assessment of possibility of holding elections there.

Hamas agrees with the proposed holding of elections but they required it by reconciliation and inclusion of National Council in the election.

Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh said he would support the unconditional reconciliation process to end internal divisions between various factions or groups in Palestine.

He announced this after eight Palestinian factions called for it after holding a conference in the Gaza Strip last September.

“Hamas’ acceptance of this initiative comes from our awareness of the current situation and real strategic threat to our goals, and our belief that national unity is a national obligation and need,” Haniyeh said on Thursday as quoted from Al Araby. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)