Palestinian factions agreed in Cairo Wednesday to hold the general elections by the end of 2018. (AFP Photo)
CAIRO/GAZA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of Palestinian factions and political powers who were convening in Cairo for two days agreed Wednesday to hold the general Palestinian elections by the end of 2018.
They wrapped up Wednesday evening a broader dialogue. Hamas movement and President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party and other factions stressed the necessity to fully implement the Egyptian-brokered reconciliation reached in October between Fatah and Hamas movements.
A statement issued at the end of the two-day dialogue said the factions call on the Central Election Commission and all other concerned parties to complete all their preparations for the holding of the presidential and legislative elections and the National Council maximum by the end of 2018.
The statement called on President Abbas to set a date for holding the elections after consultation with all other national and political powers and factions.
It stressed the need "for the faithful and accurate implementation of all the agreement's provisions in order to carry out the full responsibilities and duties of the consensus government."
"The participants stressed the necessity of speeding up the steps of developing and activating the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in accordance with the Cairo Declaration," said the statement.
The last parliamentary election was held in the Palestinian territories in 2006 when Hamas movement defeated Fatah party of Abbas who was elected president in 2005.
A year later, Hamas militants routed forces loyal to Abbas in Gaza and seized the seaside enclave.
The takeover led to rival governments, with Hamas controlling Gaza and Abbas in charge of autonomous enclaves in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The statement also called on the legislative council, the parliament of the Palestinian (National) Authority to implement what has been agreed upon activating the legislative council and resuming its normal activities.
The factions stressed on the support of the steps of President Abbas to join the international institutions and conventions to follow up the crimes of Israel in the International Criminal Court.
On the peace process with Israel, the Palestinian factions refused any peace settlement deals that are based on temporary borders, declining to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
"The participants also appealed to the Arab and Islamic countries and their institutions to support the struggle of our people and abide by their financial commitments in accordance with the decisions of the reconstruction conference held in Cairo in 2011," said the statement.
The statement called on all factions and media institutions to immediately stop the exchange of accusations and media interference and to instill in the spirit of hope and optimism of national unity and strengthening it.
The meeting agreed to convene again at the beginning of next February "to complete the status of the practical steps and mechanisms to complete all the files in all the above, in coordination with the Egyptian leadership."
