Palestinians will hold their first national election in 15 years, and while many have welcomed the announcement on Friday (January 15), many are also skeptical they will bring any change – or even not happen at all.
President Mahmoud Abbas has said parliamentary and presidential elections will be held later this year in an effort to heal long-standing divisions.
Its main rival, the militant Islamic group Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, welcomed the move.
The Palestinians Reuters spoke to were cautiously optimistic.
“We need a democratic framework that can bring about radical change, whether in the government or the national council that has existed for years, that needs renewal and young blood, to build a free democratic nation built on all the Palestinians. . areas. “
” This is a 100% good decision, which deserves more than 15 years, if not more, we are supposed to initiate a state and so we must have democracy, and democracy is election. ‘
The split area is plagued by political infighting and mistrust in the institutions.
The announcement is widely seen as a gesture aimed at pleasing President-elect Joe Biden. Palestinians are eager to restore relations after reaching a low point under Donald Trump.
It is not clear whether the 85-year-old Abbas, who is in poor health, will run.
A Palestinian poll in December for policy and investigative research found that 52% of Palestinians think that elections held under the current circumstances would not be fair and free.
If Hamas were to win, 76% thought Fatah – the party led by Abbas – would not accept the result.
58% believed that Hamas would reject a Fatah victory.
Gaza is a stronghold of Hamas, while Abbas’s power base is in the Israeli West Bank.
The two groups do not succeed in achieving lasting reconciliation, and the previous promises for the election have not been fulfilled.
Video transcription
– Palestinians hold their first national election in 15 years. And while many have welcomed the announcement Friday, many are also skeptical that it will bring about any change or even happen.
President Mahmoud Abbas has said the parliamentary and presidential elections will be held later this year in an effort to heal long divisions. Its biggest rival, the militant Islamic group Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, welcomed the move. The Palestinians Reuters spoke to were cautiously optimistic.
– [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
INTERPRETER: We need a democratic framework that can bring about radical change, whether in the government or the national council that has existed for years, that needs renewal and young blood, to build a free democratic nation built on all Palestinian territories .
– [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
INTERPRETER: It’s a 100% good decision, earning more than 15 years, if not more. We are supposed to initiate a state and must therefore have democracy. And democracy is election.
– The split area is plagued by political infighting and mistrust in the institutions. The announcement is widely seen as a gesture aimed at pleasing President-elect Joe Biden. Palestinians are eager to restore relations after reaching a low point under Donald Trump.
It is not clear whether the 85-year-old Abbas, who is in poor health, will arrive. A Palestinian poll in December for policy and investigative research found that 52% of Palestinians think that elections held under the current circumstances would not be fair and free. If Hamas wins, 76% think that Fatah, the party led by Abbas, would not accept the result. 58% believed that Hamas would reject a Fatah victory.
Gaza is a stronghold of Hamas, while Abbas’s power base is in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The two groups succeeded in bringing about lasting reconciliation. And the previous election promises were not fulfilled.