Palestinian parties announced that they were pleased with the decision taken.
Abbas received Hanna Nasser, the head of the Palestinian Central Election Committee, at the Presidential Palace in Ramallah, the occupied West Bank.
During the meeting, Abbas handed over the decree written in his handwriting to Nasser, with the parliamentary elections to be held on May 22, 2021 and the presidential elections on July 31, 2021.
In the decree, "The election process in the occupied and blockaded Palestinian territories (Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza Strip) is 3 stages (establishment of the Palestinian National Council to manage elections, parliamentary elections and presidential elections). It will be made in accordance with the principles of establishment and in accordance with national conventions," was said.
Late last year, a rapprochement was achieved between Hamas and the Fatah Movement in the search for reconciliation of political groups in Palestine. The general sectarians and representatives of the Palestinian groups held meetings in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on 3 September, and in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, and in Istanbul on 22 September. At the meetings, as a result of the steps taken to end the resistance against Israel and the political division between the groups, mutual positive steps were taken to hold elections that could not be held for about 14 years.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM HAMAS
Hamas welcomed Mahmud Abbas signing the decree stipulating holding parliamentary and presidential elections.
In the written statement made by Hamas, it was stated that the enactment of the decree for the Palestinian National Council, parliamentary and presidential elections was welcomed. It is noted that the success of these elections in a way that will ensure the interests of the Palestinian people, who have the absolute right to elect their leaders and representatives, and stated that efforts have been made to overcome all obstacles in order to reach today. In the statement, it was reminded that a decent and free electoral environment should be prepared for the voters to show their own will without any conditions and under any pressure. In addition, the Palestine Liberation Organization, the government, the National Council and political groups welcomed the signing of the decree by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which determined the date of the parliamentary and presidential elections to be held after 14 years.