Distrust, division and doubt cloud Palestinian election call Reuters 1/16/2021 Election announcement seen as gesture to Biden Vote not expected to ease bitter Fatah-Hamas rivalry Unclear whether President Abbas will run Previous election pledges went unfulfilled
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ali Sawafta
GAZA/RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Beset by political infighting, split between three territories and distrustful of their institutions, many Palestinians are sceptical that their first national elections in 15 years will bring change - or even happen at all.
President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday that parliamentary and presidential elections would be held later this year in a bid to heal long-standing divisions. His main rival, the militant Islamist group Hamas, welcomed the move.
By Ahmed Eljechtimi and Ari Rabinovitch RABAT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel and Moroccan Jews on Friday celebrated an agreement to normalise relations .