Palestinians prepare for first legislative elections in two decades

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has announced that legislative elections will be held on November 28, raising hopes that Palestinians could vote for a new parliament for the first time in almost 20 years. If the elections go ahead as planned, they will mark a significant moment in Palestinian politics after years of political deadlock, postponed votes and growing public demands for reform.

The official decree calls on Palestinians living in Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip to take part in free and direct elections to choose members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The parliament has remained inactive since 2007 following deep political divisions that emerged after the 2006 legislative elections, when Hamas defeated Abbas’s Fatah movement in a surprise victory.

The political split that followed left the Palestinian territories divided, with Hamas taking control of Gaza while the Palestinian Authority, led by Fatah, continued to govern parts of the occupied West Bank. Since then, the Legislative Council has not resumed its normal work, leaving the Palestinian Authority to govern largely through presidential decrees.

Mahmoud Abbas, now 90 years old, was elected president in 2005 for a four year term. Although his mandate officially ended in 2009, no presidential election has been held since then, allowing him to remain in office. His continued rule without fresh elections has drawn criticism from both Palestinians and the international community, with many arguing that the country’s political institutions need renewed public support.

Political analyst Ghassan Khatib from Birzeit University believes Abbas is now more determined to move forward with elections because of growing pressure both inside and outside the Palestinian territories. He said many people believe the leadership has lost public confidence after such a long period without national elections. According to Khatib, restoring democratic institutions has become increasingly important to rebuild trust between the public and political leaders.

International partners, particularly the European Union, have also encouraged political reforms within the Palestinian Authority. Many donor countries that provide financial support have linked future assistance to improvements in governance, transparency and democratic processes. Holding parliamentary elections is widely viewed as one step toward addressing those concerns and strengthening the legitimacy of Palestinian institutions.

The announcement comes after a previous attempt to organize elections in 2021 was abandoned. At that time, legislative and presidential elections had been scheduled but were postponed indefinitely because there were no guarantees that Palestinians in East Jerusalem would be allowed to participate. The issue remains one of the biggest challenges facing the new election plan.

Logistical and political obstacles continue to create uncertainty. The ongoing impact of the conflict in Gaza, along with Israeli control over movement and security in parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, could complicate preparations for voting. Khatib believes the international community should encourage conditions that allow Palestinians to hold elections without interference. He argued that a successful vote would strengthen the Palestinian Authority, something he believes Israel may not welcome.

Earlier this year, Palestinians voted in municipal elections across parts of the occupied West Bank, marking the first local elections since the Gaza conflict began in 2023. Abbas has also announced plans to hold presidential elections in early 2027, although he has not confirmed whether he will seek another term.

Despite the renewed election plans, Khatib believes the results are unlikely to dramatically reshape Palestinian politics. He expects Fatah to remain the leading political force and does not anticipate major gains for Hamas. Even so, many observers see the planned parliamentary elections as an important opportunity to revive democratic institutions and give Palestinians a chance to choose representatives after nearly two decades without a legislative vote.