by Ramzy Baroud / May 5th, 2021
The decision on April 30 by Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, to ‘postpone’ Palestinian elections, which would have been the first in 15 years, will deepen Palestinian division and could, potentially, signal the collapse of the Fatah Movement, at least in its current form.
Unlike the last Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006, the big story this time was not the Fatah-Hamas rivalry. Many rounds of talks in recent months between representatives of Palestine’s two largest political parties had already sorted out much of the details regarding the now-canceled elections, which were scheduled to begin on May 22.
Both Fatah and Hamas have much to gain from the elections; the former relished the opportunity to restore its long-dissipated legitimacy as it has ruled over occupied Palestinians, through its dominance of the Palestinian Authority, with no democratic mandate whatsoever; Hamas, on the other hand, was desperate to break
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Around the last week in April, 85-year-old, Palestinian National Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), called off the the Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC)-sponsored elections, originally slated for July 31, 2021. The white-haired, Safed-born, Palestinian head-of-state has sat at the helm of the Palestinian National Authority (PA), for 15 years of a four-year term. Abu Mazen claimed the reason was not the specter of a Hamas takeover in Ramallah, or the hypothetical victory of one of the rivals of the PA’s crazy-octogenarian president. The
President Mahmoud Abbas has tipped Palestinians and their national movement deeper into crisis – and he has no exit strategy. By indefinitely postponing the first elections in 15 years, he has missed an important opportunity to put Palestine back on the path towards national reunification and accountable leadership. He is increasing the political fragmentation and authoritarianism that has marked Palestinian politics since the last elections.
None of this was inevitable. In the past few months, there was credible progress towards legislative and presidential elections for the Palestinian Authority (PA) – thanks to the extensive efforts of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission and wide-ranging support from Palestinian factions. By the end of April, 36 electoral lists had registered to compete in a legislative election scheduled for late May.
The decision on 30 April by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to postpone this month s legislative election, which would have been the first in 15 years, will deepen the political .
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Home » Opinion » Ramzy Baroud » Palestine’s moment of reckoning: On Abbas’ dangerous decision to ‘postpone’ elections
Palestine’s moment of reckoning: On Abbas’ dangerous decision to ‘postpone’ elections
May 04,2021 - Last updated at May 04,2021
The decision on April 30 by Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, to “postpone” Palestinian elections, which would have been the first in 15 years, will deepen Palestinian division and could, potentially, signal the collapse of the Fateh Movement, at least in its current form.
Unlike the last Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006, the big story, this time, was not the Fateh-Hamas rivalry. Many rounds of talks in recent months between representatives of Palestine’s two largest political parties had already sorted out much of the details regarding the now-cancelled elections, which were scheduled to begin on May 22.