Abbas preparing to postpone Palestinian legislative elections - report
Al-Araby TV says no new date has been set for the November 28 vote as Fatah seeks renewed talks with Hamas in Cairo
Mahmoud Abbas is preparing to postpone Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for November 28, Qatar’s Al-Araby TV reported on Thursday. An announcement could come before registration for electoral lists closes on Sunday.
No replacement date has been set, according to the report, which said Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine support the postponement.
The reported move comes as Fatah seeks to renew dialogue among Palestinian factions. Jibril Rajoub, secretary general of Fatah’s central committee, said another round of talks with Hamas is expected in Cairo in the coming days. Egyptian officials received delegations from Hamas and Islamic Jihad separately on Wednesday.
The talks are expected to address preparations for the vote and the conditions under which Palestinian factions can participate. Hamas and Islamic Jihad remain excluded from the electoral process unless they recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and accept its political program, which includes recognition of Israel.
Rajoub had already cast doubt in September on whether the elections would take place as scheduled. He argued that a national dialogue involving the main factions should precede any vote and called for presidential elections to be held first.
The last Palestinian legislative elections took place in 2006, when Hamas defeated Fatah. The rivalry between the two movements subsequently led to a deep political and territorial split.