DistantNews
Support us
Palestinian president decrees legislative elections for November 28
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Elections & Politics

Palestinian president decrees legislative elections for November 28

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has decreed legislative elections for November 28, the first in two decades.
  • The last elections in 2006 saw Hamas win, leading to a political rift and the parliament's paralysis since 2007.
  • Holding elections is seen as crucial for renewing Palestinian legitimacy, though obstacles like Israeli measures remain a concern.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree Thursday setting legislative elections for November 28, potentially marking the first such vote in two decades. The Palestinian Legislative Council has not convened since 2007, following the 2006 elections where Hamas defeated Abbas's Fatah party, which had previously dominated Palestinian politics.

There is a feeling among everyone that Palestinian legitimacy has eroded because of how long it has been since elections were held. There is a gap between the public and the leadership and a need to 'renew the blood' at the top.

— Ghassan KhatibA political science professor at Birzeit University, explaining the domestic pressure for holding elections.

The presidential decree calls for "free and direct legislative elections" across the Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. This move is partly driven by international demands for reform, particularly from the European Union, a key financial supporter of the Palestinian Authority. The absence of a functioning legislative body has been widely criticized for damaging the political system and creating a disconnect between leadership and the public.

Ghassan Khatib, a political science professor at Birzeit University, believes Abbas is serious about holding elections for both domestic and international reasons. He noted a widespread feeling that Palestinian legitimacy has eroded due to the long gap since the last elections, emphasizing a need to "renew the blood" at the top.

The absence of a legislative council for such a long time has caused significant damage to the political system.

— Ghassan KhatibDescribing the consequences of not holding elections for the Palestinian political system.

Previous attempts to hold elections have faltered. In 2021, Abbas announced both legislative and presidential elections, but they were postponed indefinitely due to disagreements over voting in East Jerusalem. Municipal elections were held in the West Bank in May 2024, following the Gaza war's outbreak. Khatib highlighted that Israeli measures in Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank pose significant logistical challenges, and urged the international community to pressure Israel to ensure a conducive environment for the vote.

pressure Israel to provide an appropriate environment, or at least to refrain from measur

— Ghassan KhatibUrging international action to facilitate the election process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog