GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday issued an order directing respect for freedom of expression ahead of the May legislative election, a move demanded by Palestinian factions to vote this month. discussed in the talks in Egypt.
The decision dispels some of the doubts that would overshadow the first Palestinian national election in 15 years, although there are other obstacles. Both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have a long history of oppression of their critics, and it is unclear to what extent this decision will be complied with.
In a subsequent decision, Abbas awarded seven seats to Christians in the Palestinian Legislative Council with 132 seats. The PLC, which ousted Abbas in 2018, had six representatives for Christians, who make up 1% of the Palestinian population.
The presidential decision bans all police marches and detention in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which are controlled by the rival Hamas group, for ‘reasons related to freedom of expression and political affiliation’. Prisoners detained for such justification must be released, the decision said.
The May 22 election is hoped to be the first in the Palestinian territories since the militant Hamas movement won the last vote in the Palestinian territories in 2006.
A year later, the Islamic group waged deadly street fighting with pro-Abbas forces, culminating in Hamas taking over Gaza and politically separating it from the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority administers autonomous enclaves.
Through 14 years of division, right-wing groups accuse Hamas and the PA of beating opponents and opponents from all sides.
Hamas has demanded an end to all political-related arrests in the West Bank, and Abbas’ Fatah party has demanded the same in Gaza.
The call for elections comes in response to a series of crises facing Fatah and Hamas, which have weakened the position of the Palestinian cause in the turbulent regional and international spectrum. The PA is struggling with financial crisis and the failure to reach a peace agreement with Israel to create Palestinian state capture. In Gaza, Hamas seized power under a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade intended to isolate it and weaken its weapons, meaning it could not provide the minimum basic services.
Palestinian factions are on their way to Cairo next month for another round of talks in an effort to resolve thorny issues that have blocked them from repairing their divide, including security, workers, the judiciary and the expansion of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.