Palestinian factions pledge to abide by election timetable 

Palestinian factions agreed in Cairo on Tuesday to commit to an election timetable and to ensure that Palestinians can vote in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip "without exception", they said in a joint statement.  

In the text issued at the end of the Egyptian-mediated dialogue that began on Monday, the 14 factions pledged to hold legislative elections on 22 May and presidential elections on 31 July, as announced, in "East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, without exception".  

They affirmed the need to "take the necessary steps to ensure the holding of elections in Jerusalem in all its aspects, including nominations and ballots," according to the note. They also agreed to "allow public and political freedom guaranteed by law" and agreed on the "immediate release of all detainees" from Palestinian factions "on the grounds of freedom of expression".  

In this regard, they decided to submit a request to the new Legislative Council to address "the situation of MPs detained by the occupation", referring to Israel. They also emphasised the need to "put an end to the persecution of citizens for their political affiliation and opinion" and to "guarantee full freedom for political factions".  

The agreement between the factions includes the formation of a tribunal to "monitor" the entire electoral process, which will oversee the pre-election political phase as well as the election results.  

If polling finally materialises, it will be the first time Palestinians have gone to the polls since 2006. The two-day Cairo-brokered dialogue has included 14 factions, including the nationalist Al-Fatah party - led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - and the Islamist Hamas movement, the de facto ruler in Gaza.  

The two organisations have been at loggerheads since 2007, when Hamas seized control of the Strip and drove out the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) forces dominated by al-Fatah. Attempts at reconciliation between the two forces have been repeated since then without success, but they have recently moved closer together and, with this agreement, are willing to move forward to facilitate the holding of elections.  

On 15 January, Abbas issued a decree calling on the Palestinian population to go to the polls for the first time in 15 years. The last presidential elections were in 2005, and the last time a parliament was elected was in 2006. According to the latest figures, some 2.5 million Palestinians are expected to vote in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.