At the end of a two-day conference in Cairo, Fatah, Hamas and 12 other organizations say they have agreed to hold legislative and primary elections in May and July.
Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas say they have agreed on the “mechanisms” for upcoming legislative and primary elections, following a rapprochement between the two movements.
The agreement reached on Tuesday in Egypt’s capital provides for a “court of electoral cases” and promises to allow free campaigning and voting.
A joint statement at the end of the two-day session in Cairo said the two groups and 12 other Palestinian groups pledged to “stick to the timetable” for long-term voting and “respect and accept” the results.
The parliamentary and primary elections – set for 22 May and 31 July, respectively – are the first in 15 years.
There has been widespread suspicion that the elections will even take place.
Many Palestinians believe they are largely an attempt by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, to reveal his democratic credentials to the new US President Joe Biden, with whom he is to restore friendship after reaching a new level under Donald Trump. .
The Fatah-run PA has limited autonomy in the West Bank of Israel, and Hamas has held power in the Gaza Strip since 2007, the year Israel destructively blocked its Mediterranean maze.
According to the statement, the “electoral court” will be made up of judges from the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, who will rule in any legal disputes related to an election.
“It is the responsibility of this court to monitor all matters relating to the selection process, its results, and matters arising therefrom.”
They also said that “Palestinian uniformed police, and no one else,” will protect polling stations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and “their presence will be in accordance with the law”.
The two groups also agreed to release detainees for political reasons in the West Bank and Gaza and allow an unrestricted campaign.
There are 2.8 million eligible voters in Gaza and the West Bank.
Abbas, 85, announced the January election dates, and he is expected to run.
The last ballot, in 2006, culminated in a remarkable victory by Hamas in its first participation in parliamentary elections. Hamas then pushed Fatah out of Gaza when the latter refused to recognize the result of the vote.