Islamic Jihad 'likely' to join Palestine elections

Palestine’s Islamic Jihad is likely to participate in Palestinian National Council [PNC] elections, should an agreement be reached on the mechanisms governing upcoming elections, Islamic Jihad member Nafedh Azzam has announced. "If we find consensus in the Palestine Liberation Organisation [PLO], its political programme and decision-making procedures, it would be a great push forwards a more cohesive Palestinian front,” Azzam told reporters. The election would be important, he added, because a national unity government would represent Palestinians at home and abroad. Islamic Jihad has previously proposed a system of proportional representative in prospective Palestinian elections. The PNC is the highest legislative body representing all Palestinians, both at home and elsewhere. This includes those living with 1967 as well as 1948 borders, Palestinian refugees and members of the diaspora. It is the highest authority of the PLO.