Abbas sets date for first Palestinian parliamentary election in decades

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has scheduled legislative elections for November 28, according to a presidential decree. This marks a significant step, as it would be the first election for the Palestinian Legislative Council in decades. The last election, held in 2006, saw Hamas emerge victorious over Abbas's Fatah party, leading to a deep political rift and the council's suspension since 2007.

The presidential decree calls on the Palestinian people across Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip to participate in free and direct elections. The Palestinian Authority has faced mounting pressure from the international community, including the United States, the EU, and Arab nations, to implement reforms and hold elections.

Abbas, who won the last presidential election in 2005 with a four-year mandate, has governed extensively by presidential decree, drawing criticism for this approach. Previous attempts to hold elections have faltered; in 2021, he announced both parliamentary and presidential elections, only to postpone them indefinitely due to concerns about voting in East Jerusalem.

Earlier in June, Abbas announced that presidential elections would take place in early 2027, though he has not confirmed his candidacy. The upcoming legislative elections, if held as scheduled, could signal a shift in Palestinian political dynamics.

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The presidential decree calls on the Palestinian people in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to participate in free and direct elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council on the set date.