by Sanaa Kamal

RAMALLAH/GAZA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have expressed their happiness with the historic outcome of the meeting among Palestinian factions held in Egypt's capital Cairo over the mechanisms for the upcoming general elections in the Palestinian territories.

On Tuesday evening, the Palestinian factions declared in a press joint statement that they are committed to the timetable for holding the general elections in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, vowing to respect the outcome of the elections.

A day later, the Palestinian Central Elections Commission opened its election registration offices in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"Now, we can say we walk our first step toward our democratic life that will ensure a better future for us, as well as our Palestinian issue," Mohammed al-Salhi from the West Bank city of Ramallah told Xinhua.

Sami al-Salmi, a resident from Ramallah city, said he expected positive results from the factions' meeting, since all Palestinians, whether in the West Bank, Jerusalem, or the West Bank, have been affected by the division.

Because of the division, no faction has achieved any political, economic, or social achievements, he added.

In a decree issued last month, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that the legislative elections will be held on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and the Palestinian National Council elections on Aug. 31.

The last legislative elections in the Palestinian territories were held in late 2006 when Hamas won a majority. Abbas was elected as the president of the Palestinian Authority in 2005.

The internal Palestinian division between Hamas and Fatah began in 2007 when Hamas forcibly took over the Gaza Strip from Fatah. Since then, the Palestinian territories have been split into a Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and a Fatah-dominated West Bank.

Saif Abu Sidou, a resident from Gaza city, said he will elect neither Fatah nor Hamas given the deteriorating life in the coastal enclave since 2007.

Palestinians need jobs that would keep their families afloat, he noted.

Zahir Ashour, also from Gaza city, said the residents can change the current reality through the ballot boxes.

"I hope this time that the Palestinian factions will not back off what they agreed in Cairo," Ashour said, adding all the Palestinians are looking forward to the real and concrete steps out of the factions' meeting. Enditem

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