Second round of Palestinian National Dialogue kicks off in Cairo

CAIRO- 16 March 2021: A second round of The Palestinian National Dialogue kicked off, Tuesday in Cairo with the participation of several political factions to discuss issues related to facilitating elections which they agreed on holding it during the negotiation’s first round in February.

The negations held under Egyptian auspices is supposed to discuss the legal procedures of the electoral process and the political environment of the electoral scene.

According to Palestinian news agency WAFA, the second dialogue includes all Palestinian political factions, and suppose to last for two days

Egypt’s president Abdel Fatah al Sisi expressed his wishes for the Palestinian factions and leaders to achieve their desired goals of the dialogue meetings.

The first round of the National Dialogue held in Cairo last February and lasted for two days.

In their final statement, the factions agreed on holding general elections, followed with another presidential elections, in accordance with the presidential decree issued on January 15, 2012.

They sat another date for a second round of meetings in March to agree on bases and mechanisms needed to complete forming the new National Council with the aim of developing the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

The factions affirmed in their statement that they will adherence to the timetable set by January 2012 decree, emphasizing that the elections will be held in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip without exception

All factions will be committed to respect the elections final results.

The final statement affirmed supporting the central elections and working to overcome any potential obstacles.

The factions agreed on forming a specialized “election court”, to included judges from Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This court will look exclusively in any cases related to the elections and will be responsible for the follow-up of everything related to the electoral process, including its results, and any legal disputes.

The final statement also stressed that the elections will be secured mainly by the Palestinian police forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in their uniforms.

The factions affirmed in their statement as well, the importance of police forces impartiality security the elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and to refrain from interfering in elections or propaganda for any political party.

They stressed providing equal opportunities to all electoral lists in media without discrimination. And expressed their thanks and appreciation to Egypt and President Abdel Fattah al Sisi for the efforts exerted sponsoring and hosting the Palestinian National Dialogue in all its stages.

Earlier in January, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on organizing general elections in May followed by another Presidential elections in July of 2021.

These elections will be the first to be held in about 15 years, as the last legislative elections witnessed in Palestine were held in 2006, and the last presidential elections were in 2005.