JERUSALEM....Election observers from 22 countries have arrived to observe election preparations and voting as part of a multinational delegation organized by the National Democratic Institute in partnership with The Carter Center. The observers will attend orientation briefings over the next two days and will be deployed on election day, Wednesday Jan. 25, to locations in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.

The 80-member delegation is being led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, former Albanian President Rexhep Meidani, and former Spanish Foreign Minister and current member of the Spanish Parliament Ana Palacio. The delegation includes elected officials, electoral and human rights experts, regional specialists, and political and civic leaders from North America, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The delegation leaders will hold a press conference on Thursday Jan. 26, to release the delegation statement.

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READ MORE:

• Jimmy Carter to Lead Multinational Delegation to Observe Jan. 25 Legislative Council Elections in Palestinian Territories
• Palestinian Legislative Council Elections: Expert Q&A with David Carroll and Matthew Hodes
• Palestinian Legislative Council Elections: Pre-Election Assessment Statement of The Carter Center/National Democratic Institute
• The Carter Center's work in Palestinian Territories
• Feature article: The 2005 Palestinian Elections: New Era for Middle East Peace?
• In Depth: Israel and the Palestinians, BBC Web site
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