Fatah movement has entered into an alliance with five other factions in the upcoming general elections, according to a senior Palestinian official.
Member of the central committee Azzam al-Ahmad announced that five factions have informed Fatah they are ready to form a unified list.
Ahmad also indicated during an interview with Voice of Palestine radio that discussions are open with other factions to join the alliance.
He did not specify which factions are included in the agreement, but observers believe they are the Palestinian Democratic Union, the Palestinian Liberation Front, the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, the Arab Liberation Front, and the Palestinian Arab Front.
If Fatah includes other factions from the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in the list, it may run in the elections against Hamas movement.
Fatah is also discussing with Hamas joining the list. However, no agreement has been reached yet and the coming days will be decisive in deciding the outcome of the talks.
Fatah says it is open to an alliance with Hamas, but the latter prefers such an alliance within a joint national list.
Fatah and Hamas agreed to hold elections on the basis of pushing the electoral process forward. Their possible formation of a joint list will be part of a long-term agreement that also includes forming a government.
For the first time in nearly 15 years, Palestinians are looking forward to holding the elections, following their suspension in light of the intra-division between the two movements.
In January, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that the general elections will include legislative polls on May 22, presidential elections on July 31, and the Palestinian National Council elections on August 31.
The results of the Legislative Council elections are the first stage in the formation of the Palestinian National Council, according to the Basic Law of the PLO and national understandings.
The Secretary of the Fatah Central Committee, Jibril Rajoub, confirmed the Committee will discuss with all factions and various components joining one list that addresses the aspirations of the Palestinians.
Rajoub announced Fatah will devise a roadmap to control the organizational state, indicating that mechanisms have been approved to select candidates in a way that guarantees the formation of a list reflecting the interests of all Palestinians.
He stressed that Fatah is committed to ending the division and establishing the national partnership, noting that the presidential decree to promote freedoms opens the horizons for creating a positive environment for a popular mass movement to engage in the democratic process.
Rajoub hoped everyone would realize the importance of the decree, and overcome all obstacles and the repercussions of the division.
