Fatah group submits electoral list to run in upcoming Palestinian legislative elections

RAMALLAH, WEST BANK - MARCH 31: Fatah group on Thursday, March 31, has submitted the list of candidates to the election commission to run in the parliamentary elections. While the Palestinian legislative elections that will be held on May 22 is upcoming, Fatah, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has submitted its list after its rival Hamas. Wasel Abu Yousef, member of the PLO's Executive Committee, said Fatah will make alliance with the Palestinian Liberation Front, the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, Palestinian Arab Front and the Arab Liberation Front on the list. He said the list includes a total of 132 people from the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and the occupied East Jerusalem city. Yousef said the list includes candidates from all parties allied with Fatah, except for the Arab Liberation Front. Jibril Rajoub, the Secretary General of Fatah's Central Committee, said alliance with Hamas on the political roadmap is a way to encourage public opinion and international factors. On March 29, Hamas submitted its electoral list under the name "al-Quds Maw'edona" (Jerusalem is Our Destiny). Palestinians are set to have three parliamentary, presidential and National Council polls elections – under a decree signed by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Parliamentary elections will be held May 22, presidential elections July 31 and Palestinian National Council elections Aug. 31. Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah have been at odds since Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from its rival in 2007, but last September the two met in Turkey and agreed to hold parliamentary and presidential elections. On Dec. 31, Hamas senior leader Ismail Haniyeh sent Abbas an official letter on ending the division and holding general elections in Palestinian territories. The last presidential election was in 2005, while the parliamentary elections were last held in 2006.(Footage by Hisham K. K. Abu Shaqra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)