As weary Israelis count votes from yet another tight election, Palestinians are beginning to prepare for their first polls in 15 years juggling both hope and despair. For surveyor 23-year-old Abdulhameed Mwas the upcoming parliamentary and presidential polls will be the first time he has ever had a chance to vote. UNITING PALESTINIANS:Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared in January that parliamentary elections will be held on May 22, followed by historic presidential polls in late July. He voiced hopes of uniting Palestinians behind “one clear cut political plan, the emergence of a Palestinian sovereign independent state”. After initial scepticism among Palestinians, a new poll released this week showed some 61 percent of voters expect the parliamentary polls will indeed go ahead.

Source: Pakistan Today March 25, 2021 12:22 UTC