Politics · Australia · 6 hrs ago
Australia criticises Palestinian Authority over delayed elections
The Palestinian Authority has postponed elections that were due on November 28 until September 11 next year.
The authority governs parts of the West Bank and represents Palestine in international forums.
Its president, Mahmoud Abbas, said Israeli restrictions and destruction in Gaza were behind the delay.
The last Palestinian elections were held in 2006, and Abbas also postponed elections in 2021.
Australia had cited Abbas’s promise to hold elections as a condition linked to its recognition of Palestinian statehood last year.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said credible elections matter for reform, democratic renewal and accountable government, and called for them to take place without delay.
Australia has indicated it will not take practical steps towards recognition, such as opening embassies, until the authority meets its commitments.
The authority has rescheduled the elections for September 11 next year.
Australia has criticised the Palestinian Authority after it postponed elections that had been scheduled for November 28.
The elections have been delayed until September 11 next year, according to the Palestinian Authority’s announcement over the weekend.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s spokesperson said the decision was deeply disappointing and urged elections to take place without delay.
The Australian government said continued delays undermine the prospects of a two-state solution.
Abbas’s office blamed Israeli restrictions and widespread destruction in Gaza for the postponement.
- Who
- The Australian government, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s spokesperson, criticised the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas.
- What
- The Palestinian Authority postponed elections scheduled for November 28 until September 11 next year.
- When
- The postponement was announced over the weekend. The elections had been scheduled for November 28.
- Where
- The Palestinian Authority governs parts of the West Bank and represents Palestine in international forums.
- Why
- Abbas’s office blamed Israeli restrictions and widespread destruction in Gaza. Australia said elections are important for reform, democratic renewal and accountable governance.
Australian government
Palestinian Authority
Reason for delay
Australian government
Australia urged the Palestinian Authority to hold elections without delay and said continued postponement undermines the prospects of a two-state solution.
Palestinian Authority
Abbas’s office blamed Israeli restrictions and widespread destruction in Gaza for the postponement.
Election commitments
Australian government
Australia said credible elections are an important element of the Palestinian Authority’s commitments on reform, democratic renewal and accountable governance.
Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian Authority postponed elections that had been scheduled for November 28 until September 11 next year.
President Abbas’ decision to postpone the Palestinian Legislative Council election is deeply disappointing.
We call on the Palestinian Authority to ensure elections take place without delay
Continuing to delay elections undermines the prospects of a two-state solution.
The promise of democratic elections gave Labor’s premature recognition of Palestine a veneer of legitimacy, and now that veneer has been stripped away
The most recent Palestinian elections were held, delivering an overwhelming majority to Hamas.
Abbas also postponed elections.
Abbas told French President Emmanuel Macron that he intended to hold presidential and general elections within a year under international supervision.
The Palestinian Authority announced that elections scheduled for November 28 would be delayed until September 11 next year.
- Original election date
- November 28
- New election date
- September 11 next year
- Last Palestinian elections
- 2006
- Palestinian Authority president
- Mahmoud Abbas
- Australia foreign minister
- Penny Wong
Sources
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