Palestinians ponder who may run for president next year
Although the reconciliation process is moving slowly, a busy electoral season awaits the Palestinian territories, during which each of many parties might field their own candidate or end up forming electoral alliances.
Palestinian factions have agreed to hold presidential, legislative and general elections next year. Though they have yet to set a date, the agreement is spurring speculation about who will be running for the presidency.
The groups met for reconciliation talks Nov. 21-22 in Cairo and again less than two weeks later. The factions participating are Fatah and Hamas — the two main parties — as well as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Fida Party and the Palestinian National Initiative.
The last Palestinian presidential elections were held in January 2005, when Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas won 62% of the votes against six other candidates. Abbas' legal term expired in 2009, but the Palestinian division since 2007 hindered subsequent elections, keeping him in office.
The reconciliation agreement reached in October has raised hopes for a successful election near the end of 2018 with both main parties participating.
