Hamas and Dahlan-led faction to explore unified list for Nov. 28 Palestinian vote
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Palestinian factions will contest Nov. 28 legislative elections, with Hamas and the Dahlan-led breakaway Fatah faction preparing to discuss a unified list. Campaigning will launch on Nov. 6 despite Israel's war on Gaza, escalating violence in the occupied West Bank and Israeli restrictions in occupied East Jerusalem. Fatah says it will not run on a single list with Hamas, while leaving the door open to other alliances.
Key Facts
- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas set legislative elections for Nov. 28 in a July 9 decree, the first such vote since January 2006.
- Campaigning is set to launch on Nov. 6 despite Israel's war on Gaza, escalating violence in the occupied West Bank and Israeli restrictions in occupied East Jerusalem.
- Hamas national relations official Husam Badran said the movement has recently held bilateral and collective meetings with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the National Initiative and the Dahlan-led Democratic Reform faction.
- Fatah spokesperson Munther al-Hayek said the movement's organisational bases refuse to participate with Hamas in a single list, while the door remains open to alliances with other factions.
- A Democratic Reform delegation led by Mohammed Dahlan met on Monday with a Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya.
Coalition Talks
Hamas will participate in the elections and prefers to run within the widest possible national bloc, Husam Badran, the group's national relations official, said. He said Hamas's decision and political moves would not be influenced by potential Israeli objections to the movement's participation. Hamas has held bilateral and collective meetings with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the National Initiative and the Dahlan-led Democratic Reform faction. Democratic Reform leader Mohammed Dahlan and his faction have previously been firm critics of Hamas. A Dahlan-led delegation met on Monday with a Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya.
Fatah Position
Fatah spokesperson Munther al-Hayek said the organisational bases of Fatah refuse to participate with Hamas in a single list, while the door remains open to alliances with other factions. He described the upcoming elections as aimed at unifying the Palestinian political system. He said Abbas has formed a committee to engage in dialogue with factions to facilitate the electoral process across all Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip.
Election Calendar
Abbas's July 9 decree called for Palestinian legislative elections on Nov. 28, the first such vote since January 2006. Campaigning is set to launch on Nov. 6. The vote will take place amid Israel's war on Gaza, escalating violence in the occupied West Bank and Israeli restrictions in occupied East Jerusalem.
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Hamas and Dahlan-led faction to explore unified list for Nov. 28 Palestinian vote
