Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday issued a resolution announcing the dates for parliamentary and presidential elections in the Palestinian Authority.
Why it matters: This is the first time in 15 years that such a decision has been published. The last presidential election took place in 2005, with Abbas, and the last parliamentary election in 2006, with Hamas winning.
Send the news: The parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 22 and the presidential election for July 31 – although the plans may still go ahead.
- Abbas met today with the chairman of the Central Election Commission and instructed him to prepare for elections in the West Bank, in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and in Israel-controlled East Jerusalem.
- Last week, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said in a letter to Abbas that the movement would agree to hold elections as part of a national reconciliation process.
Flash back: After Hamas won the 2006 election, the Palestinian Authority deteriorated into a deep political crisis between Hamas and Fatah, Abbas’ party.
- The US and other world powers have announced that they will not cooperate with Hamas until they recognize Israel, expose terrorism and commit themselves to previous agreements with Israel.
- Hamas has refused to comply with the conditions and rejects it to this day. The US, UK, EU and other Western governments continue to boycott Hamas, and the US designates the group as a terrorist organization.
- In 2007, a civil war broke out in the Gaza Strip and Hamas took over the area by force.
The whole picture: Abbas’ announcement comes after numerous failed attempts at reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, and after several plans to hold elections failed.
- Abbas, who is 85 and is in the 15th year of his four-year term, is not very popular. Recent polls suggest he could lose to a Hamas candidate.
What’s next: Many analysts are skeptical about whether this election will take place.
- One of the main obstacles is East Jerusalem. If Israel does not allow voting, the election could be canceled.