RAMALLAH, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed on Wednesday that it's important to hold the Palestinian elections as soon as possible.
Abbas' remarks were made during a meeting held in Ramallah on Wednesday with Qatari Ambassador Mohammad al-Amadi, head of the Qatari committee to reconstruct the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA).
The news agency's report said that Abbas briefed al-Amadi on the latest development in the internal Palestinian affair, especially the preparations for holding the elections in the Palestinian territories.
According to the report, Abbas also briefed al-Amadi on the results of the meetings that the chairman of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC) had already held with leaders of the Palestinian factions in the West Bank and Gaza.
Meanwhile, the CEC has earlier announced that it will resume its meetings and the needed consultations with all Palestinian parties to pave the road for holding the general elections.
The CEC said in an emailed press statement that "the commission has finalized the initial series of meetings and consultations held with the Palestinian factions, political parties, and civil society organizations on holding the elections."
The statement added that "holding the elections would need a national responsibility by all those who are joining the electoral process to guarantee holding it and respect its results."
The CEC also said that "all the factions who will join the general elections expressed their acceptance to the principle of holding unsynchronized elections, starting with the legislative or parliamentary elections, and then after three months, the presidential elections will be held."
"It was agreed to hold a meeting that includes all the Palestinian factions and political powers to discuss all the outstanding issues related to creating a proper atmosphere to holding the elections in order to enable everyone to join it," it said.
A delegation representing the CEC chaired by Hanna Nasser held a meeting on Tuesday night with Abbas in Ramallah, after the delegation had visited the Gaza Strip for three days and held talks with Hamas movement and other Palestinian factions.
Hamas spokesman in Gaza Hazem Qassem said in an emailed press statement that "Hamas movement has no conditions on the election file and the movement will do everything possible to accomplish it."
"We will abide by all what the Palestinian factions agree upon. We are optimistic about the possibility of holding the elections. We are serious about holding it and we will do everything possible to facilitate it," Qassem said.
The last legislative elections were held in the Palestinian territories in January 2006, where Hamas won an overwhelming majority and dominated the Palestinian Authority Parliament, known as the PLC.
Abbas was elected as Palestinian president in the presidential election held in the Palestinian territories in January 2005.
