The death of the Palestinian President, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and head of the Fatah revolutionary council, has left a large political vacuum, which is in dire need of mending. The months ahead will prove to be vital and crucial for the future of the Palestinian Authority. There is no doubt that the Palestinian Authority moved admirably, energetically and straightforwardly by scheduling, as stipulated by the Palestinian ‘Basic Law’ drafted in 1995, the election of a new president within 60 days following the death of President Arafat.

As smooth as the transition has been, there have been clear indications as to the potential trouble that may take place in the near future. The first stumbling block came with the outbreak of machine gun fire by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in Gaza, when former Prime Minister and Presidential Candidate Mahmoud Abbas visited the area. Secondly, there is the struggle within Fatah between the ‘Old Guard' and the 'New Guard,’ the essence of this struggle is based on support, popularity and representation and most importantly reform. The ‘Old Guard’ can mainly be defined as firstly the Palestinian leaders who came back to the territories as part of the Oslo accords and secondly those leaders who have been part of the political scene for too long (retaining too much control of Fatah’s Central Committee). The ‘New Guard,’ representing much of the ambitious younger members of Palestinian political life, is embodied by the imprisoned Secretary General of Fatah in the West Bank Marwan Al-Bargouthi. Thirdly, one of the most impending internal political challenges that the Palestinian political arena may witness yet, is the willingness and receptiveness of the Islamic parties (HAMAS and Islamic Jihad) to go along with national aims and objectives outlined by the PNA through joining the elections, or the further pursuit of their own agenda by remaining in opposition or boycotting these election for the second time.

The upcoming Palestinian Presidential elections scheduled for the 9th of January are a much awaited world-wide spectacle, primarily to jump-start the deadlocked Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. Furthermore many Palestinians are eager that this election will be followed by new parliamentary elections to bring new blood into the Palestinian Legislative Council which has been in office since 1996, and is seen as long overdue. Palestinian Presidential elections are a phenomenon to the territories, and are therefore given great importance not only by Palestinians, but also by much of the international community. The candidates for these upcoming elections are:

1. Mahmoud Abbas
2. Abdul Sattar Qassem
3. Hassan Khreish
4. Talal Sider
5. Majeda Al-Batsh (representing the only female candidate)
6. Ghassan Barham
7. Ayoub Othman
8. Hassan Nourani
9. Bassam Al-Salhi
10. Kamal Shbeir

With the jailed political leader Marwan Al-Bargouthi opting not to take part in the upcoming elections, fears of a political split within Fatah have been washed away. Political analysts, foreign or Palestinian see the next Palestinian President as being Mahmoud Abbas. In a recent opinion poll conducted by the An-Najah National University Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies shows that; if Israel does not free Marwan Barghouthi, respondents choose the following names for PA Presidents according to the following percentages.

1. 24.2% Mahmoud Abbas
2. 9.8% Mustafa Bargouthi
3. 4.3% Abdul Sattar Qassem
4. 4.0% Ahmad Qurai
5. 1.7% Talal Sider
6. 48.2% say that they will decided at the time of elections.

Whether Mahmoud Abbas wins the elections or not, it is an imperative that all Palestinians from various social, political, geographic, and demographic portions of society participate in these elections and make their votes count and heard. Their vote must depend on the political and economic agenda set forth by each candidate, rather than allegiance with a person or faction.

Finally with the prospects of remerging peace negotiations and the talk of a Palestinian State on the rise, it is vital that any Political candidate who prevails should not forget the Palestinian fundamental doctrines for peace, which are:

• A just and lasting peace based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
• A just settlement of the Palestinian Refugee crisis based on General Assembly Resolution 194.
• Withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces and the dismantling of settlements to the borders of 4th of July 1967.
• east Jerusalem as the capital of an independent and viable Palestinian State.