Jerusalem ( CNN ) -- The Palestinian Authority is planning to hold overdue elections this year , a move seen as a reaction to the political discontent taking hold across the Arab world . Officials said the authority will hold legislative and presidential elections no later than September in the West Bank and Gaza . The announcement comes a few days after officials said they intend to hold local elections in the West Bank and Gaza . Yasser Abed Rabbo , the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization , said polls will be held `` to satisfy the will of the Palestinian people . '' Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi said the Palestinians believe `` it 's high time '' for polls `` because we need to re-establish the legitimacy of our institutions through elections . '' `` We are a big nation , we have lots of people with potential and ability and integrity and charisma and national commitment and I think we should come up with leadership that will do the job , '' she told CNN . Palestinians regard these moves as a response to ferment in the Arab world -- street outrage that sparked the overthrow of strongmen in Egypt and Tunisia , a government change in Jordan , and a promise in Algeria to end the emergency rule there . Also , leaders across the Arab world are envisioning reforms to address grassroots economic grievances . The election announcement was also made amid a persistent focus on resolving Palestinian disputes with Israel . In another development on Saturday that clouds the direction of Israeli-Palestinian talks , chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat , the face of the Palestinian people to many in the West , resigned from his post . The election announcement comes amid a deep political schism . The West Bank government of the Palestinian Authority is dominated by the Fatah party of President Mahmoud Abbas , and Gaza is ruled by the rival Islamist group Hamas . It 's unclear now whether the polls will be held in Gaza since the Hamas movement rejects the authority of the Palestinian Authority government in the West Bank city of Ramallah . Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the plan for elections `` invalid and illegal , '' claiming that Palestinian Authority leaders President Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad lack the legitimacy to make such a move . He said that political reconciliation between Palestinians was necessary before elections could be held and characterized the announcement as a move by the Palestinian Authority to prevent the wave of revolutionary changes taking place in the region from spreading to the Palestinians . But Ashrawi said the Palestinian Authority is trying to persuade Hamas to participate in elections and believes elections would help the state address its concerns with Israel . `` We are preparing also for statehood and we believe this is an instrument for national unity -- so all these things made it imperative that we do have elections between now and September , '' she said . The vote would mark the first time elections have been held in the Palestinian territories since 2006 . In that year , legislative elections brought Hamas into power and led to international sanctions against the Palestinian Authority until Hamas agrees to the renunciation of violence , acceptance of previous agreements between the Palestinian Authority and Israel , and the recognition of Israel . Various attempts at reaching an accord through Palestinian unity talks have ended in deadlock . Israel wields ultimate authority in the West Bank despite significant local autonomy there . Israel withdrew its troops and citizens from Gaza in 2005 , but attacks by Gaza-based militants on the Jewish state have prompted tough Israeli military responses and a stiff economic embargo . `` We are undergoing a serious political crisis given the fact that Israel is continuing settlement activities -- there are no negotiations and there is no international will to hold Israel accountable , '' said Ashrawi , who 's also a member of the Fatah executive committee .
Presidential , national elections to be held by September , authorities say . A legislator says it would restore Palestinian `` legitimacy '' This comes amid potent discontent in the Arab world .