Palestinian legislative election nomination applications to open Saturday

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission announced Wednesday that it will begin accepting applications for the Palestinian Legislative Council starting Saturday, Anadolu reports.

The commission said in a statement that it will accept nomination applications until 4 pm (1300GMT), Oct. 7.

It said the application period will last 12 days, including official holidays.

Legislative elections are scheduled for Nov. 28.

According to the timetable approved by the commission, election campaigning will begin on Nov. 6, while early voting for security forces will take place on Nov. 26, with general voting scheduled for Nov. 28.

BLOG: Has Palestine become an election issue in Latin America’s largest country?

In July, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree setting Nov. 28 as the date for legislative elections in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, making them the first such elections since 2006.

The Palestinian Legislative Council has been inactive since 2007 following the Palestinian division, while Abbas ordered its dissolution in 2018.

Legislative and presidential elections scheduled for 2021 were previously canceled after Abbas decided to postpone them, citing the lack of Israeli approval guaranteeing the participation of Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem.

The upcoming election will be the third Legislative Council election, following those held in 1996 and 2006. The next council will have 132 seats.

READ: Israeli election committee bars candidate from Knesset race over Gaza war opposition