It is the first Palestinian ballot in fifteen years. The names of the candidates are due to be published on April 6, but the Palestinian electoral commission has already announced on its website that it has approved all 36 lists submitted. Legislative elections, scheduled for May 22, are expected to renew the 132 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
The vote, which is set to precede a presidential election slated for July 31, is part of efforts by major Palestinian movements – the secular Fatah of PA President Mahmoud Abbas, and the Islamist party of Hamas – to boost international support for Palestinian governance.
Both Fatah and Hamas submitted their candidacies. The former controls the West Bank, a territory under Israeli occupation where more than 2.8 million Palestinians live. The second has been in power since 2007 in the Gaza Strip – an enclave subject to a strict Israeli blockade – which has more than 2 million Palestinians.
Palestinian political activity banned in Jerusalem
Mahmoud Abbas’ party faces competition from multiple dissident factions, including that of Nasser Al-Qidoua. The nephew of the former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was recently expelled from Fatah, for having criticized the Palestinian ruling class and, for his part, presented his own list, “Freedom”. This list is supported by Marouane Barghouti, a senior Fatah executive nicknamed by his supporters the “Palestinian Mandela”. The latter is currently serving five life sentences in Israel, linked to anti-Israel attacks during the second Intifada (2000-2005).
Mohammed Dahlan, rival of Abbas in exile in the United Arab Emirates, also supports a competing list. This is also the case for the former Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad.
Fatah and Hamas have agreed that Palestinians can vote in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But uncertainty persists over those in East Jerusalem, annexed by Israel, which bans all Palestinian political activity in Jerusalem. However, Palestinian officials insist that the vote take place in the eastern part of the city, claimed to be the capital of their future state. The last Palestinian presidential election dates back to Mahmoud Abbas’ victory in 2005, followed the following year by legislative elections won by his rivals Hamas.
