Palestinian president postpones elections until late 2027
Quick Look
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed legislative elections from November 2026 to September 11, 2027, citing Israeli measures including settler violence, military attacks, movement restrictions, and tax revenue withholding in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as ongoing strikes and humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
- Presidential elections were also delayed.
- Abbas had previously committed to holding elections in November 2026 following France's recognition of Palestine and a UN address.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has governed by decree since his presidential mandate expired in 2009. He had previously scheduled legislative elections for November 28, 2026, and presidential elections for early 2027, following a written commitment to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to hold elections as part of France's recognition of the State of Palestine. Abbas reaffirmed this commitment in a video address to the UN General Assembly weeks before the postponement.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed legislative elections for almost another year, according to a decree issued on Friday.
Abbas had previously scheduled legislative elections for November 28, and presidential elections for early next year. Now both elections have been pushed back to September 11, 2027.
They would be the first Palestinian elections in more than 20 years.
Why are Palestinian elections postponed?
In his decree, Abbas cited "obstacles posed by Israeli measures" as the reason for the postponement of "free, fair and inclusive elections."
He pointed to Israeli settler violence, military attacks and restrictions of movent in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as Israel's continued withholding of tax revenue.
In Gaza, where Israeli strikes continue after three years of war, the decree cited "exceptional security and humanitarian conditions," the incomplete withdrawal of Israeli forces and a lack of progress towards reconstruction, among other issues.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded to the news on X, calling the decree "yet another ridiculous lie designed to evade responsibility and accountability."
A commitment to hold elections
Abbas had committed in writing to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that elections would be held as part of France's recognition of the State of Palestine last year.
The delay comes just weeks after Abbas reaffirmed this commitment to hold elections in November when he delivered a video address to the UN General Assembly.
Abbas has governed by decree since his presidential mandate expired in 2009.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Legislative and presidential elections will be held on September 11, 2027, as per the new decree.
Possible · Within years
Open Questions
- What specific Israeli measures are obstructing elections in the West Bank and East Jerusalem?
- How will the delay affect internal Palestinian political dynamics and legitimacy of Abbas's rule?
- What is the likelihood of elections being held in September 2027 given ongoing conflict in Gaza?
- How will France and Saudi Arabia respond to the broken commitment to hold elections?
