Hussein al-Sheikh: Decision to hold Palestinian elections in November stands

Palestinian vice president Hussein al-Sheikh has said the decision to hold legislative elections in November will not be reversed, while ruling out Hamas’ participation as enshrined in the Gaza disarmament plan, Palestinian media reports said. Al-Sheikh said that if the elections cannot be held because of Israeli interference, the Palestinian leadership will instead move towards elections for the Palestinian National Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization, according to Quds News Network. He said internal factional disputes must not become a pretext for delaying or cancelling the vote, adding that Fatah will run on a single list under its own name. Hamas, he said, cannot run under its own name because of what it signed in the Board of Peace agreement, the report said. Al-Sheikh also insisted that the elections must include the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. He said the Palestinian authorities had contacted the United States and Israel, asking them to facilitate the vote, but had yet to receive a response.