Palestinian Authority Elections Postponed by Nearly a Year by Abbas
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed the PA presidential elections from November 2026 to September 2027 via a presidential decree. The delay is attributed to worsening conditions in the territories, according to a message sent to France's Foreign Minister. The PA also requested Israeli permission for election committee members to work in East Jerusalem and Gaza. Abbas reportedly fears his Fatah party could lose to a unified list including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas postponed presidential elections to September 11, 2027.
- The elections were originally scheduled for November 28, 2026.
- The delay is due to worsening security, political, and economic conditions.
- France has pushed for elections and reforms in exchange for state recognition.
- The PA requested Israeli permission for election work in East Jerusalem and Gaza.
- Abbas reportedly fears Fatah's defeat against a unified list including Hamas.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a presidential decree postponing the PA presidential elections by nearly a year. The elections, originally scheduled for November 28, 2026, have been rescheduled to September 11, 2027. The decision was announced on Saturday.
According to a Reuters report, Abbas's deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh, informed France on Friday that the elections would be delayed due to a worsening of conditions in the territories. A document sent to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that the security, political, and economic conditions necessary for the November 28 elections were not yet ripe. The document also warned that holding elections under current circumstances would present fundamental obstacles to including various groups, ensuring freedom of participation, and maintaining the process's credibility.
France has been a proponent of elections and reforms within the PA, linking these to international recognition of a Palestinian state. Earlier in the week, Israeli media reported that the PA had formally requested Israel's permission for election committee members to operate in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip for the planned Palestinian legislative elections. This request, made during the week of remembrance for the October 7 massacre, is seen by some as a strategic move to place the blame for any cancellation on Israel, should it deny permission for operations in East Jerusalem.
The postponement comes amid concerns within Abbas's Fatah party about a potential defeat against a unified list formed by Mohammed Dahlan, in alliance with Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
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