The status of the Palestinian legislative elections and possibly the political fate of the current Palestinian leadership will be in the balance on the night of April 29, as heads of Palestinian factions are due to meet to decide whether to delay the May 22 elections or not. The official start of the election campaigning is due to begin April 30.
Palestinian sources told Al-Monitor that a yet to be announced internal decision has already been taken by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement to delay, yet what is needed is the blessing of the factions. With the exception of the official Fatah list, almost all other factions have publicly declared that they are opposed to any delays. Signed petitions, public statements and possibly a protest is expected to take place at the same time that the heads of the main Palestinian factions meet, most likely after the end of the Ramadan fast at sunset on Thursday.
