Palestinian President sets November 28 for legislative elections

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a presidential decree setting November 28 as the date for legislative elections. This marks the first scheduled legislative and presidential elections since 2005, following years of political division and postponed attempts, including the canceled 2021 elections.

To accommodate the difficult field conditions and movement restrictions in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, Abbas also issued a legal amendment extending the candidacy period from 12 to 18 days. The Palestinian Central Election Commission confirmed receipt of this amendment, stating that the new candidacy window will run from September 26 to October 13. The Commission emphasized that this change will not affect the fixed election date of November 28 and is working to adjust the electoral timeline accordingly.

The elections are viewed as a critical step toward unifying Palestinian political institutions and restoring the legislative authority that has been dormant since the 2006 political split. However, challenges remain, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza and security restrictions imposed by Israeli occupation forces.