Abbas postpones Palestinian elections to September 2027
The president cancelled the November legislative vote and combined it with a presidential poll, citing Israeli restrictions and security obstacles in Gaza and the West Bank.
President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree on Saturday revoking the order for upcoming legislative polls. He set September 11, 2027, as the date for simultaneous presidential and parliamentary voting across all Palestinian territories.
This decision followed meetings with political factions and the PLO Executive Committee. Officials determined that current conditions prevent holding the vote originally scheduled for November 28, 2026, due to significant external impediments.
Abbas cited Israeli military raids and settlement expansion as primary obstacles. He also noted restrictions on movement in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, alongside the continued withholding of Palestinian clearance funds by Israel.
The decree highlighted severe challenges in the Gaza Strip. It pointed to the absence of international stabilization forces and the lack of reconstruction progress, which hinder logistical preparations for a comprehensive electoral process.
Access barriers for election observers and commission teams were also emphasized. The text stated that Israeli restrictions on entering Gaza and East Jerusalem compromise the ability to guarantee free and fair supervisory work.
Mustafa Barghouti criticized the move as concentrating power in the executive branch. He argued that the absence of an independent judiciary and parliament makes the continued delay of democratic processes totally unacceptable for Palestinians.