The Palestinian Central Elections Committee (CEC) said on Thursday that 800
foreign observers will monitor the Palestinian presidential election due to be
held on Sunday.
The CEC said in a statement that the foreign observers will cooperate with
21,000 Palestinian observers to keep a close eye on the poll all over the
Palestinian territories including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
In addition, Ammar Dweik, executive director of the CEC, expressed concerns
about the current Israeli security measures imposed on the Palestinian towns and
villages in the West Bank and Gaza as well as the ongoing military operations on
the Palestinian lands.
"The CEC does not count so much on the Israeli official promisesto facilitate
the holding of the election by removing checkpoints. We, in fact, expect
difficulties instead," said Dweik.
The official added that the CEC finished all the preparations for Sunday's
election and began to distribute the ballot papers across the Palestinian
territories.