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The next presidential elections in Palestine have been repeatedly postponed or cancelled. They were most recently scheduled to be held on 31 July 2021 according to a decree by President Mahmoud Abbas on 15 January 2021.[1] However, it was subsequently postponed indefinitely.
The elections were to have followed legislative elections, which were to have taken place on 22 May 2021, but which were also postponed. Hamas had welcomed the proposed elections,[2] as had the UN and the EU,[3][4] and a number of countries. Hamas, Fatah and other groups agreed on 9 February on the "mechanisms" for the elections, which includes an electoral court and commitments to open voting.[5]
The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC) was to conduct the elections.[6] CEC Chairman Hanna Nasir said on 16 January 2021 that "about two million Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip were eligible to vote."[7] On 2 March 2021, after the expiration of the deadline for registration to vote, the CEC said that 2.6 million of the 2.8 million eligible voters in the West Bank and Gaza, 93% of the total, had registered to vote. It is not compulsory to register to vote nor actually to vote in Palestinian elections.[8]
On 14 March 2021, a Palestinian Authority official said Arab residents of Jerusalem will participate in the Palestinian general elections; however, a senior Israeli government official said that no decision had yet been taken. Abbas and other Palestinian officials have said there would be no elections without the participation of Arab residents of Jerusalem.[9][10] Blaming Israel for not agreeing to permit Palestinians resident in Jerusalem to vote, Abbas postponed the election on 29 April[11] but did not set a new date.[12] The postponement has been strongly criticised.[13]
- ^ "President Abbas enacts decree-law on holding general elections". WAFA. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Hamas welcomes Abbas decree announcing Palestinian elections". Reuters. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Palestine: Statement by the Spokesperson on launching the preparations for elections". EEAS - European External Action Service - European Commission.
- ^ "UN Spokesperson: Elections will be a crucial step towards Palestinian unity". PNN. 17 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Palestinian factions agree on 'mechanisms' for long-delayed polls". Al Jazeera. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "Presidential Decree No. ( 1 ) of 2021 On the Call for Legislative Presidential and National Council Elections". www.elections.ps.
- ^ "CEC chairman: Two million Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem are eligible to vote". WAFA. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "Palestinians report 93% voter registration for upcoming elections". Reuters. 17 February 2021.
- ^ Abu Toameh, Khaled; Harkov, Lahav (14 March 2021). "Palestinian Authority: Jerusalem Arabs to participate in PA Elections". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ Abu Toameh, Khaled (26 April 2021). "PA President Mahmoud Abbas: No Palestinian elections without Jerusalem". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ Abu Toameh, Khaled (30 April 2021). "Abbas: Palestinian elections postponed after Israel blocks Jerusalem vote". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ Lazaroff, Tovah (1 May 2021). "EU, UN call on Abbas to set new date for Palestinian elections". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ Abu Toameh, Khaled (1 May 2021). "Abbas's decision to delay elections sparks public outcry". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 4 October 2021.