Palestinian Elections May See New Alliances Including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Dahlan Faction

The Palestinian legislative elections, scheduled for November 28, may witness a significant shift in political alliances, with indications of a unified national list potentially including Hamas, the Islamic Jihad movement, and the reformist current led by Mohammed Dahlan. This move represents a change in the Islamic Jihad's stance, as it has previously boycotted legislative elections in 1996 and 2006.

According to Zaher Al-Kashaf, director of Al-Masaa TV in Gaza, the Islamic Jihad's participation would be unprecedented. He explained that the "understanding" does not necessarily mean that leaders from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or Dahlan's faction will appear on the list by name. Instead, it refers to a coalition that could comprise independent figures and personalities acceptable to the participating factions. Efforts are underway to broaden this list to include other factions, following previous meetings between Fatah and other Palestinian factions in Cairo concerning election preparations and political alliances.

The common ground uniting these groups, Al-Kashaf suggested, is a shared political and ideological basis between Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Mohammed Dahlan's reformist current within Fatah is seen as opposing the leadership of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Although organizationally still part of Fatah, Dahlan's faction maintains a presence and supporters in Gaza and beyond, with some associated figures having won seats in the 2006 elections while still within Fatah.

Al-Kashaf views the potential formation of this coalition as an attempt to unite various forces and factions against Fatah's dominance of the Palestinian Authority. He also noted the possibility of external influences shaping these new alliances. However, questions remain about the viability of these understandings translating into a complete electoral list, especially with ongoing discussions about including other factions and personalities, and uncertainties surrounding the elections themselves in Gaza, Jerusalem, and the West Bank.

Al-Kashaf emphasized that the recent announcement, made by a prominent Islamic Jihad leader to the Associated Press, appears to be more than just a media maneuver and carries significant political weight, even though the final list details have not yet been disclosed.