Independent Palestinian political researchers and analysts predicted that President Mahmoud Abbas will set a date for upcoming legislative and presidential elections on Oct. 3.
Aref Jaffal, General Director of the Arab World Marsad for Democratic Reform and Election, told AFP that Abbas, according to intel obtained through calls with officials, will issue a presidential decree on Oct. 3 for holding elections.
The decree will be issued before Abbas meeting with representatives of Palestinian factions.
The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC) revealed that it is prepared to hold polls as soon as the presidential decree is issued and confirmed that it needs 110 days to complete the first phase of elections.
CEC Director Hisham Kahil said that the commission is ready for both legislative and presidential polls, but it is waiting for Abbas’ order.
“CEC Chairman Hanna Nasser informed Abbas of the details on organizing elections, issuing the timeline, registering voters and holding electoral campaigns,” Kahil told the official Palestinian news agency.
Gaza rulers Hamas and their rivals in the occupied West Bank, Fatah, have agreed to unify Palestinian ranks and hold the first elections in nearly 15 years.
Abbas, since the start of Sept., has met with representatives and officials of Palestinian factions and informed them of all the decisions to be made by commissions assigned with ending Palestinian divisions and unifying the national stance.
For the first time in 13 years, a meeting brought together Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Fatah leader Abbas.
In their final statement, the conferees agreed on forming a committee of influential and trustworthy national figures whose mission is to develop, within no more than five weeks, a strategic vision to end the inter-Palestinian division and achieve political partnership.
They also agreed to establish a national committee to lead the comprehensive popular resistance against the Israeli occupation.
