Palestinian vote - the next step to statehood

THE VOTE

* Voting will take place at 1000 poll stations in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Arab East Jerusalem.

* 1.4 million Palestinians are eligible to vote for the 132-member Palestinian Legislative Council.

* Half will be chosen from 314 candidates on 11 party lists.

* The rest of the seats will be chosen from 412 regional candidates in 16 districts.

* Hamas gets about 30 per cent in opinion polls; Fatah 32 per cent.

* There will be 800 foreign observers.

* Polls open tomorrow night (NZT). Exit polls expected on Thursday.

THE GROUPS

* Fatah: The faction of President Mahmoud Abbas. Dogged by accusations of corruption and split between an old guard and younger leaders seeking power. Fatah is formally committed to a peace deal with Israel for a state. A 45-member Fatah list is headed by Marwan Barghouthi, jailed by Israel for planning militant attacks.

* Hamas: Officially committed to destroying the Jewish state, it opposed interim peace accords and boycotted the last Parliament vote in 1996. Branded a terrorist group in the West. Has won support for its charity network and anti-corruption credentials.

* Independent Palestine List: Headed by former presidential candidate Mustafa Barghouthi, it advocates social reform and non-violent resistance to occupation. Has a 41-member list comprising professionals and intellectuals.

* Third way: 25-member list led by former finance minister Salam Fayyad. Seeks to achieve statehood through civic action.

* Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa: Drawn from the Marxist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Named after Abu Ali Mustafa, a leader killed by Israel.

* Badil: Arabic for "alternative", a coalition of former members of secular and Marxist PLO factions, as well as independent figures. It has a 40-member candidate list.

ISRAEL

* Election to be held on March 28.

* Ehud Olmert of Kadima is committed to Ariel Sharon's plans, which may include withdrawals from the West Bank but holding on to a united Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

* Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel might have to relinquish control of some territory if it wanted to reach a peace deal.

* Labour leader Amir Peretz plans on "keeping Jerusalem united and strong, with a Jewish majority and character" if he became Prime Minister.

- REUTERS