by Saud Abu Ramadan
GAZA, Feb 10 (NNN-XINHUA) – Leaders of 14 Palestinian factions, resumed their national dialogue in Cairo, to discuss political and technical issues, related to the upcoming general elections in Palestine.
The factions that join the dialogue include the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, and several left-wing groups.
A Palestinian source, who is close to the dialogue, said that, the discussions during the first day of the dialogue, which the Egyptian Security Intelligence Service sponsors, “were positive and encouraging.”
The source said, representatives of Hamas and Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas-led Fatah Movement, will continue to hold bilateral meetings, in a bid to agree on a “code of honour” to allow everyone to campaign freely and commit to respect the outcome of the elections.
The source added, the ongoing Cairo meetings focused on discussing issues to end the internal Palestinian division, rearranging the internal Palestinian situation and preparing for the general elections.
The meetings were an outcome of the Egyptian efforts, to rearrange the Palestinian situation from inside, and achieve a national reconciliation that enables the Palestinians to overcome obstacles at this difficult stage.
The most significant issue on the dialogue table is related to the administrative and security issues for the elections, in addition to the procedures for creating an atmosphere and ensuring public freedom.
Some independent Palestinian figures presented a draft paper, that called on participants in the dialogue to discuss, not only the issue of the general elections, but also other substantial issues related to rearranging the internal Palestinian situation.
Hani al-Masri, director general of the Palestinian Centre for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, said, some independent Palestinian figures called for forming a transitional government.
In a decree issued last month, Palestinian President Abbas announced that, the 2021 general election will include legislative elections, to be held on May 22, presidential elections on July 31, and the Palestinian National Council elections on Aug 31.
The last Palestinian presidential elections were held in Mar, 2005, and the legislative elections in Jan, 2006. The result was a victory for Hamas, which received 44.45 percent of the votes, and won 74 of the 132 seats. Meanwhile, Fatah received 41.43 percent of the votes and won 45 seats.
The internal Palestinian division between Hamas and Fatah began in 2007, when Hamas forcibly took over the Gaza Strip from Fatah. Since then, the Palestinian territories have been split into a Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and a Fatah-dominated West Bank.– NNN-XINHUA
