Fatah official insists that presidential and parliamentary elections ‘must follow’ local poll

A senior Fatah official has insisted that presidential and parliamentary elections must follow October’s local government poll. The aim, said Revolutionary Council member Nabeel Amro, must be to have an elected Palestinian leadership which is “able to face the Israeli occupation,” Quds Press reported on Sunday.

Amro, who is a former Palestinian Authority ambassador to Cairo, said that the upcoming local elections are an “important stage” in the Palestinian political process. He called on all of the Palestinian factions not to “waste any opportunity to get an elected leadership” all the way from charities and NGOs, through trade unions, to parliament and the presidency.

The official downplayed fears of internal divisions inside Fatah, noting that these are “aggravated”. He also ruled out concerns that elections would deepen the division between the Palestinian factions.

Although there are internal disputes among Fatah leaders and members in Gaza, he pointed out that the movement is “more organised” there than it is in the West Bank.

In closing, Amro also called for the results of the elections to be respected by everyone, no matter who wins.