Story thread · 2 reports / 1 sources

Europe to consider support mission to oversee Palestinian elections

thenationalnews.com · 13dShare

Jean-Noel Barrot , the French Foreign Minister, is to ask the European Union to send a mission to monitor Palestinian elections scheduled for November, the first in two decades. Speaking on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, Mr Barrot said there is “no more powerful way for a people aspiring to self-determination to express themselves fully in an election than by choosing leaders who will subsequently become fully legitimate interlocutors for the international community”. “It is essential that these elections take place, I see no technical or logistical obstacle that is insurmountable,” he added. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority leader, vowed last year to organise elections as part of a deal involving recognition of Palestinian statehood by France and 10 other countries, including the UK, Canada and Portugal. Legislative elections are planned for November 28 and presidential elections for early next year. Mr Abbas, 90, has yet to confirm whether h

First report: Marwan Barghouti's son does not rule out father running in upcoming Palestinian presidential elections — thenationalnews.com, 14d