Rival Hamas and Fatah groups met to arrange balloting Parliamentary and presidential votes to be held this year (Adds Islamic Jihad saying it will not run in election)
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Rival Palestinian factions agreed on Tuesday on steps aimed at ensuring Palestinian elections are held as planned later this year and pledged to respect their results, a joint statement said.
No Palestinian elections have been conducted in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem for 15 years amid a deep rift between President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah nationalist group and the Hamas Islamist movement.
The two dominant factions - Fatah holds sway in the West Bank, and Hamas rules Gaza - convened on Monday for talks in Cairo to prepare for parliamentary elections on May 22 and a presidential vote on July 31.
Rival Palestinian factions agreed on Tuesday on steps aimed at ensuring Palestinian elections are held as planned later this year and pledged to respect their results, a joint statement said.
UPDATE 1-Rival factions agree on procedures for Palestinian elections -statement Reuters 2/9/2021 Rival Hamas and Fatah groups met to arrange balloting Parliamentary and presidential votes to be held this year (Adds Islamic Jihad saying it will not run in election)
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Rival Palestinian factions agreed on Tuesday on steps aimed at ensuring Palestinian elections are held as planned later this year and pledged to respect their results, a joint statement said.
No Palestinian elections have been conducted in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem for 15 years amid a deep rift between President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah nationalist group and the Hamas Islamist movement.