Palestinian elections: Hamas and Fatah reach agreement in Cairo

Representatives of Hamas and Fatah pictured during a meeting in Cairo, Egypt, October 12, 2017. (Illustrative photo) AP - Nariman El-Mofty

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Meeting since Monday in Cairo for talks, the two main Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas pledged, Tuesday, February 9, to respect the results of the next legislative and presidential elections, scheduled for this year.

These will be the first for 15 years.

The objective of the Palestinians: to regain credibility in the eyes of the international community and especially of the new American administration.

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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,

Sami Boukhelifa

The last Palestinian presidential election dates back to 2005. It brought to power the current president and leader of Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas.

The following year, his rivals Hamas won the legislative elections.

Then began a period of bloody clashes between the enemy brothers.

The former are in power in the West Bank, the latter control the Gaza Strip.

After years of conflict and multiple attempts at reconciliation, the two main Palestinian movements seem to have taken a step forward to

overcome their divisions

.

They undertake to accept the

results of the legislative and presidential elections

, scheduled for May and July 2021 respectively.

Their objective is to regain some semblance of legitimacy and to speak with one voice to defend the Palestinian cause, especially with the new American administration.

But many unknowns still surround the next polls.

The various Palestinian movements must meet again in Cairo in March to finalize their agreement.

It also remains to be seen whether or not Israel will allow Palestinians to vote in East Jerusalem, annexed by the Hebrew state.

President

Mahmoud Abbas

was clear about this: “ 

No vote without the participation of the 300,000 Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

 "

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  • Palestinian territories

  • Mahmoud Abbas

  • Israel

  • Egypt

  • Gaza

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