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Palestinian President Postpones Elections Until 2027
Confirmed
In Short: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas postponed legislative and presidential elections until September 11, 2027, citing Israeli restrictions and security conditions.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday postponed legislative elections due next month until September 11, 2027, and called a presidential poll for the same date, blaming Israel and the security situation in the Palestinian territories for the delay, according to Arabnews (Saudi Arabia).
The Palestinians have not held legislative or presidential elections since 2005-06, after which Abbas’ rival, the Islamist group Hamas, seized control of Gaza, ousting his loyalists, reported Arabnews (Saudi Arabia), The Financial Express (Bangladesh), and The Jerusalem Post (Israel).
Abbas has ruled by decree since his presidential mandate expired in 2009, noted Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and The Financial Express (Bangladesh).
In Gaza, the decree pointed to “exceptional security and humanitarian conditions,” the incomplete withdrawal of Israeli forces, the lack of progress in reconstruction, and the failure to implement arrangements for deploying international stabilization forces and police, quoted Arabnews (Saudi Arabia), The Financial Express (Bangladesh), and The Jerusalem Post (Israel).
The decision to postpone followed consultations with Palestinian factions and political forces, stated Arabnews (Saudi Arabia).
France’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that holding the elections was essential and welcomed the launch of an EU election observation mission, quoted Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and The Financial Express (Bangladesh).
The decree said Israeli military attacks, settlement expansion, settler violence, and movement restrictions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, along with Israel’s continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, created challenges to preparing for and holding elections this November, quoted Arabnews (Saudi Arabia), The Financial Express (Bangladesh), and The Jerusalem Post (Israel).
The Palestinian Authority held municipal elections in April in the West Bank and in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, the only city in the enclave to take part, reported The Financial Express (Bangladesh).
An August poll by the West Bank-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research showed declining support for both Hamas and Fatah, which many Palestinians blame for their continuing political divisions, noted The Financial Express (Bangladesh).
Two Palestinian officials told Reuters on Thursday that leaders of Abbas’ Fatah movement and Hamas had agreed at a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday to postpone the elections, confirmed The Financial Express (Bangladesh), The Jerusalem Post (Israel), and Arabnews (Saudi Arabia).
The decree called on Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza to vote, confirmed The Financial Express (Bangladesh), The Jerusalem Post (Israel), and Arabnews (Saudi Arabia).
The Jerusalem Post (Israel) reported that the WAFA report follows Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh informing France of election postponements, and that the decision followed consultations among Palestinian factions, political forces, and the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
What this adds
The decision to postpone the elections aims to allow time for a comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue to strengthen unity and address challenges facing the electoral process, according to Arabnews (Saudi Arabia).
What's confirmed
- The Palestinians have not held legislative or presidential elections since 2005-06, after which Abbas’ rival, the Islamist group Hamas, seized control of Gaza, ousting his loyalists.
- Abbas has ruled by decree since his presidential mandate expired in 2009.
- In Gaza, the decree pointed to “exceptional security and humanitarian conditions,” the incomplete withdrawal of Israeli forces, the lack of progress in reconstruction and the failure to implement arrangements for deploying international stabilization forces and police.
- France’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that holding the elections was essential and it welcomed the launch of an EU election observation mission.
- The decree said Israeli military attacks, settlement expansion, settler violence and movement restrictions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, along with Israel’s continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, created challenges to preparing for and holding elections this November.
- Abbas’ decree referred to “obstacles posed by Israeli measures” and the need to establish suitable political, security and on-the-ground conditions for “free, fair and inclusive elections”, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
- Two Palestinian officials told Reuters on Thursday that leaders of Abbas’ Fatah movement and Hamas had agreed at a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday to postpone the elections.
- There had been serious doubts that the Palestinian Authority elections would proceed next month.
- The decree called on Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza to vote.
What's still developing
- It also aimed to allow time for a comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue to strengthen unity and address challenges facing the electoral process.
- Countercurrents omits the “letter to France” detail and stresses logistical access claims, while Reuters-based outlets focus on conditions and integrity wordin… Abbas Is Expected to Delay First Palestinian Legislative Elections in 20 Years Exclusive-Palestinians set to delay legislative elections due to worsening conditions, letter says Palestinian Factions Race to File Lists as Abbas Weighs Election Delay Highly anticipated Palestinian elections likely to be postponed, sources say Palestinian Authority confirms it is postponing first legislative elections in 20 years Palestinian factions agree to national dialogue before the elections.
- The Associated Press reporting said the elections scheduled for November are limited to choosing the 132 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, while presidential elections were scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, according to an announcement published on the Palestinian president’s website.
- Published by Syed Nasim Manzur for International Publications Limited from Tropicana Tower (4th floor), 45, Topkhana Road, GPO Box : 2526 Dhaka- 1000 and printed by him from The Transcraft Limited, 229, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208 PABX : 02223389780 (Hunting) | Mobile: 01917231083 | Fax : 880-2-02223387049 About Us Contact Us Terms of Service Privacy Policy Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday postponed legislative elections due next month until Sept 11, 2027, and scheduled a presidential poll for the same date, citing Israeli restrictions and security conditions in the Palestinian territories.
- The Executive Committee reached a consensus, deciding that Israeli measures in the West Bank and Gaza posed a significant obstacle to holding elections at the previously scheduled date, WAFA explained, adding that the postponement is to allow for the establishment of "suitable political, security and field conditions for free, fair and inclusive elections."