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Abbas Pledges First Palestinian Legislative Vote in Two Decades
Mahmoud Abbas says Palestinians will hold a parliamentary election on November 28.
It would be the first legislative election in 20 years.
Palestinians have not held national legislative or presidential elections since 2005-06.
Hamas took control of Gaza after those elections, while Abbas’s supporters remained in charge elsewhere.
Some Fatah officials doubt the new vote can happen.
They point to disagreements among Palestinian groups and restrictions on bringing voting materials into Gaza.
Hamas says it will participate and is discussing a possible coalition.
France is urging Abbas to keep his election promise.
Abbas also says his government completed reforms and wants the United States to end restrictions on Palestinian officials.
Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed plans for Palestinian legislative elections on November 28, the first such vote in 20 years.
The Palestinian Authority has not held legislative or presidential elections since 2005-06, after Hamas seized control of Gaza.
France urged Abbas to hold legislative and presidential elections and said it would continue pressing for the vote.
Fatah officials questioned whether elections could proceed, citing internal disagreements and Israel’s alleged restrictions on election materials entering Gaza.
Abbas said the Palestinian Authority had completed reforms and criticized US restrictions that prevented Palestinian officials from attending the UN General Assembly.
- Who
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah movement, Hamas, France, and the United States are central to the dispute.
- What
- Abbas reaffirmed plans for legislative elections and defended Palestinian Authority reforms while criticizing US restrictions on Palestinian officials.
- Where
- The planned vote concerns the Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank; Abbas delivered his address from Ramallah and the UN meeting took place in New York.
- When
- The planned legislative election is scheduled for November 28; the statements were reported on September 24.
- Why
- Abbas says the election advances reforms and Palestinian political representation, while France says elections support self-determination; doubts remain because of political disagreements and stated restrictions on voting materials entering Gaza.
Support for Elections and Reform
Doubts and Objections
Whether elections should proceed
Support for Elections and Reform
Abbas reaffirmed that legislative elections would be held on November 28, while France said elections were necessary for Palestinians to express their aspirations and be heard.
Doubts and Objections
Fatah officials questioned whether the vote could take place and called for dialogue with other Palestinian factions before proceeding.
Readiness of the Palestinian Authority
Support for Elections and Reform
Abbas said the Palestinian Authority had fulfilled its commitments and completed a comprehensive national reform program addressing international concerns about governance and corruption.
Doubts and Objections
The United States has pressured Abbas to implement reforms and has maintained restrictions on Palestinian officials, saying their actions sought to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Conditions for voting in Gaza
Support for Elections and Reform
Hamas said it would participate and was discussing a coalition to challenge Fatah, indicating that it intends to engage in the planned election.
Doubts and Objections
Some Fatah officials cited Israel’s refusal to allow ballot boxes, election papers, and ink to enter Gaza as a barrier to holding the vote.
Key facts
- Planned legislative election
- November 28
- Last Palestinian elections
- Legislative and presidential elections were last held in 2005-06.
- Presidential election plan
- Abbas decreed that a presidential election would take place in 2027 but has not set a date.
- Election administration
- The Palestinian Central Election Commission said it would begin receiving candidate applications on the coming Saturday.
- Hamas position
- Hamas said it would participate and was discussing a coalition with other groups.
- French position
- France urged Abbas to proceed with legislative and presidential elections and supported EU election observers.
- US restrictions
- The Trump administration said it would deny entry to Palestinian officials for the UN meeting.
Quotes
Mahmoud Abbas
President of the Palestinian Authority
“The danger is no longer limited to undermining the two-state solution and preventing the realization of a Palestinian State. It now threatens the very life and existence of the Palestinian people in their homeland.”
theprint.in
“We are proceeding toward legislative elections on 28 November of this year”
theprint.in
Jean-Noel Barrot
French foreign minister
“They must be held. They are a way for the Palestinian people to express their legitimate aspiration to self-determination and to make their voice heard, something that is unfortunately not the case today”
theprint.in
Sources
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