JERUSALEM....A joint Carter Center/National Democratic Institute delegation of 80 multinational election observers monitored polling stations today in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza for today's historic Palestinian Legislative Council elections - the first in a decade. The polls close at 7 p.m. (12 p.m. EST).

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 22 countries.

In a speech delivered Jan. 23 to the Sixth Herzliya Conference - an annual event highlighting Israel's national security policy - President Carter expressed his hope for peaceful elections.

"Although there is now some justified trepidation about the involvement of candidates from Hamas," he said, "we are hopeful that, despite severe restrictions on voting in East Jerusalem and movement within the West Bank, the election process will be peaceful and another demonstration of the Palestinians' commitment to democracy." Read President Carter's full speech, or watch archived video.

NDI and the Center previously organized delegations - co-led by President Carter - for the 1996 elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council and president of the Palestinian Authority, and for the January 2005 presidential election.

Delegation leaders will hold a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 26, to release the delegation statement. (The full statement will be posted on www.cartercenter.org and www.ndi.org.)

READ MORE:

• Jan. 25, 2006, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Q&A with David Carroll, director, Carter Center Democracy Program
• NDI/Carter Center Observers Arrive, Jimmy Carter Delivers Middle East Peace Remarks Ahead of Palestinian Legislative Council Elections
• 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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