Palestinians are voting in their first parliamentary elections in 10 years, in which the ruling Fatah party faces stiff competition from Islamic resistance group Hamas.
The BBC News website asked six Palestinians who they planned to vote for, what issues were most important to them and what they think the elections mean for the future of politics in the territories.
Mona el-Farra, doctor, Gaza
Ghassan Abdullah, co-ordinator, Ramallah
Hatem Shurrab, graduate, Gaza
L Hourani, NGO worker, Gaza
Fathi Tobail, information worker, Gaza
M Qumsieh, candidate, Bethlehem
MONA EL-FARRA, DOCTOR, GAZA
I am planning to vote for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) list. They are transparent on social issues and I am hoping for change.
Their attitude towards women is important and they are keen on developmental issues. They are in favour of the deprived and marginalised in Palestine - the workers, farmers and small trades people of the region.
After the repeated failures of Fatah, it is not surprising that Hamas is doing well
Andrei Dascalu, Cluj, Romania
If Hamas were elected it would be disastrous for us, they will not bring stability, and socially they are not progressive.
As for Fatah, they are corrupt on domestic and national issues and they are not strong negotiators. We have tried them for 10 years but they will not take us to independence.
I am a doctor here and in the past five years of the intifada I have seen hundreds killed. What I have seen has affected how I vote. So, although I know the chances of my choice winning are remote, I want someone clean and transparent.
Although Hamas or Fatah on their own would be disastrous, I suppose a coalition could be good.
GHASSAN ABDULLAH, CO-ORDINATOR, RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
I am voting for the Alternative List - the left-wing coalition. I think their voice in the legislative council will be useful, critical and watchful.
Like most liberals we are concerned about Hamas but, if that is the choice of the people, so be it. Also, I am sure they will not get a majority and a stronger opposition for the government is good.
I'm not afraid of them being in government. Most institutions are already in the hands of the majority party, Fatah, anyway. We must allow the Palestinian political system to be more pluralistic and open. But for all the talk of corruption, there is far less here than in other countries.
Here corruption is mostly at the top, not all the way down as with other countries. Besides, between corruption and fundamentalism, corruption is the lesser of the two evils.
Fatah will gain the most seats, but I am hoping we will gain something. It is a turning point. Since the death of Arafat, the transition of power has gone well in local and presidential elections.
Now, hopefully, these elections will also go according to plan.
HATEM SHURRAB, GRADUATE, GAZA
I am going to vote for Hamas. I think they will win big in the legislative council and work hard for progress.
When you look at all the social programmes they have in Gaza, you can see they are doing good things for the community. Also, they are trying to end the occupation to make Gaza Strip and the West Bank prosperous.
To those who dislike Hamas - I want these people to imagine they are Palestinians and to see what Hamas would offer them. They say Hamas is a terror faction but they are just trying to regain Palestinian land and to work for the sake of the people.
Hamas is, I think, trying to become more media friendly. It is trying to show others that the movement is not a terror faction.
People in Gaza do not trust Fatah any more. We have tried them many times - they are seen as corrupt and out of touch. Fatah also has absolute power on the legislative council and we do not want this. We want our government to represent many factions.
LAMA HOURANI, NGO WORKER, GAZA
I am voting for the Independent Palestinian List, simply because I do not want to vote for Fatah or Hamas.
The list represents many different peoples - from workers left unemployed because of Israeli economic restrictions to disabled people. It is also strong on women's rights.
I definitely would not vote for Hamas - I do not agree with their political or social programmes. I am secular and I do not believe in their ways of struggle. I do not believe in pushing Israel into the sea. They are not democratic, they depend on religious ideologies and not democracy.
Still, according to polls I have seen, they may take up to 40% of the vote - up from 30%. We have to acknowledge this fact. Besides, the past five years have seen corruption, lack of security and no authority on the streets. The negotiations with the Israelis are not achieving anything and causing people to move from Fatah.
I think after the elections the two major powers - Hamas and Fatah - will have to make a coalition. Then Hamas will have to decide about negotiating with the Israelis, who will not negotiate with anyone. I suppose we will have to wait for the Israeli elections next.
Still, politically things will change. There will be power-sharing and some anti-corruption programmes at least, along with sharing in decision making.
I feel honoured to be a Palestinian under occupation and still to be able to participate in elections. It is democracy.
FATHI TOBAIL, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION WORKER, GAZA CITY
I am a Fatah supporter and am voting for them. They have led the Palestinian people for more than 40 years and I see their way of struggle as a just and right way of achieving our aspirations.
It is not a radical organisation - it represents all Palestinians and has a wide platform. Fatah's struggle also achieved the Oslo agreement, which has guaranteed the right of return to Gaza and the West Bank and established the Palestinian Authority.
Many people object to what they see as the Palestinian Authority's corruption, but any political party in the world faces accusations by opponents. When you are fighting a fight on so many levels you have problems.
One of the main issues domestically for Fatah is the release of political prisoners in Israeli jails. The second is unemployment and the third is helping women.
I do not believe that Hamas, for example, will help women move forward. Still, I think it is good for Hamas to be in the opposition. It is a chance for them to learn not just the politics of the gun, but fighting for rights through words.
The main international issue is dealing with the Israelis. They have to start negotiating with us on matters such as the status of East Jerusalem, the establishment of a state and the refugee question.
Also, we must be allowed to improve our national economy and continue to seek good relations with Europe and the Americans.
But the main achievement of these elections is democracy.
MAKRAM QUMSIEH, CANDIDATE, BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK
I am running as an independent candidate for one of two seats in Bethlehem. My platform tells voters: ‘This is your chance to go and elect people who can represent you.’
We are looking to provide internal hope and a new image for the Palestinian people, to show we are seeking peace and are not terrorists.
I do not think the new council will have a majority for either Hamas or Fatah, which is good. The independents and leftist parties will be the counter-balance for these two forces. This is our chance to have good people who are properly equipped to get the two parties to co-operate and not to fight.
I am a Christian and we have fixed seats in parliament [for representation], so it is our chance to promote our issues and tell the Muslim majority what we suffer from. But I still represent all Palestinians.
I hope that once we have a legitimate council where all national forces are represented we have a chance to unite and say ‘let us create a government without corruption.’
Then we can end the insecurity and start promoting the issues important to the Palestinian people.