RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) – President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed what would have been the first Palestinian elections in nearly two decades. Issuing a decree on Friday, he has delayed voting for the Palestinian Legislative Council until September 11, 2027, almost a year later than initially scheduled. The presidential elections, which also have not occurred for over 20 years, are set for the same date.
The decision to postpone the elections leaves entrenched Palestinian leaders in power without challenge and threatens to undermine the credibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA) among ordinary Palestinians and donor nations. The PA, dominated by Abbas's party, Fatah, has administered parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank since the 1990s but has increasingly fallen out of favor. Many Palestinians consider it corrupt and criticize its security cooperation with Israel, contributing to a decline in Abbas’s popularity during his presidency.
The decree followed a meeting of senior Palestinian officials who convened to discuss the postponement. The Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, led by Abbas, stated that the political conditions in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip were not suitable for conducting elections. They pointed out that Israel had not permitted the entry of election materials or international observers into Gaza.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar remarked on X, stating that Abbas's claim of Israeli-imposed obstacles to elections is unfounded and serves as a "ridiculous lie" intended to evade accountability. This move was anticipated following discussions among Palestinian factions in Cairo regarding the delay.
The postponement was welcomed by Hamas, which described it as “a step in the right direction.” Hamas argued that further discussions should focus on rebuilding Palestinian institutions and rescheduling the elections for a later date. Palestinian legislative elections have not occurred since 2006, when Hamas gained a majority, which was followed by a boycott from Israel and Western nations leading to unrest and Hamas's subsequent takeover of Gaza in 2007. This resulted in a division of power, with Hamas ruling Gaza and the PA, under Abbas, governing the West Bank.
The situation in the West Bank has deteriorated in recent years, marked by increasing violence associated with the expansion of Israeli settlements. Reports frequently detail attacks by settlers on Palestinians and Israeli military raids on areas under PA control. Although a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan was established last year outlining a potential role for the PA in Gaza, its immediate function remains largely undefined. Hamas continues to govern Gaza, while technocrats awaiting permission in Cairo are positioned for a transition of authority.
Prior to the postponement, leading Palestinian factions had not filed lists to participate in the elections. However, discussions among veteran officials aimed at uniting against Abbas were underway. An unexpected coalition appeared to form between Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and a faction led by former Fatah security chief Mohammed Dahlan. Dahlan was previously ousted from Gaza by Hamas and exiled in 2010 after a fallout with Abbas.
Dimitri Dilliani, a spokesperson for Dahlan’s faction, remarked that “Abbas is terrified by the electoral alliance bringing our faction together with opposition factions and forces within Fatah that reject his leadership.” Abbas has been in power since 2005 and has a history of delaying both presidential and legislative elections throughout his tenure.
