Abbas Set to Postpone Palestinian Elections Amid Israeli Obstacles

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is reportedly moving to announce the postponement of legislative elections scheduled for November 28, before the close of candidate registration on Sunday. This decision comes amid Israeli obstacles and Palestinian political and diplomatic efforts, with no new date agreed upon yet. Sources informed "Arab 48" and "Al-Araby Al-Jadeed" that Abbas intends to declare the delay, with the Islamic Jihad and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine movements supporting the move. The Palestinian leadership has been signaling a postponement due to difficulties in the West Bank and Gaza, particularly Israeli restrictions concerning Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Deputy Palestinian President Hussein Al-Sheikh informed European diplomats and consuls that current conditions make holding elections on November 28 extremely difficult. He met with representatives from France, Britain, and Canada in Ramallah, and spoke with European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas, briefing them on the security and humanitarian situation. Al-Sheikh indicated that the current circumstances would not allow for "genuine and transparent legislative elections representing Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza," suggesting a postponement is likely. European officials, however, stressed that any delay should not be indefinite and urged setting a new date within a clear vision for the Palestinian political path, emphasizing the need for both legislative and presidential elections before December 2027.

The Israeli government's refusal to allow the Palestinian Central Elections Commission to enter Gaza and Jerusalem to prepare for the elections is a central issue. A Palestinian official stated that Israel denied the commission access to Gaza and Jerusalem, directly hindering elections across all Palestinian territories. However, a source from the Central Elections Commission suggested that local teams in Gaza could manage the process there, and that Jerusalemites could vote in suburban areas. European diplomats noted that discussions also involve the security situation in Gaza and guarantees against targeting polling stations.

Internal Palestinian efforts to agree on an alternative date or new political arrangements have not yet succeeded. Jibril Rajoub, Secretary of Fatah's Central Committee, held meetings in Egypt with Egyptian officials and Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to discuss elections and internal Palestinian affairs, but no final agreement has been reached. Cairo has not officially decided to host a comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue, despite a request from the Palestinian leadership, reportedly seeking to address the issue of Mohammed Dahlan's faction and ensure prior agreement on the dialogue's outcomes.

The potential postponement comes just days before the end of the candidate registration period, with over 2.97 million Palestinians eligible to vote. Previous Palestinian general elections were also postponed in 2021, primarily due to disagreements over holding them in Jerusalem and Israeli refusal. The current situation highlights the Palestinian leadership's challenges in setting a new date and ensuring elections that include the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem amidst occupation, internal division, and prevailing conditions.