Palestinians need more than elections in West Bank to achieve democracy

What Happened

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), announced that long-overdue legislative elections will be held on November 28, and he also promised a presidential election in 2027. The announcement follows repeated deferrals since Hamas’s 2006 legislative victory, most recently the cancellation of May and July 2021 votes, which Abbas blamed on Israel’s refusal to allow East Jerusalem residents to participate. Critics cited in the article assert that internal Fatah divisions—particularly challenges from Marwan Barghouti and Mohammed Dahlan—drove the 2021 cancellation and that the current move may be aimed at shoring up Abbas’s legitimacy amid financial crisis and ahead of a EU Palestine Donor Group meeting. The article also highlights that PA electoral rules require candidates to accept PLO commitments under the Oslo Accords, a condition that effectively excludes Hamas from formally contesting, though Hamas could informally back independent lists as it did in April 2026 municipal elections. Additionally, the succession question looms: Abbas’s son Yasser was elected to Fatah’s Central Committee in May, and his potential presidential run in 2027 would represent ‘a managed inheritance of power’ rather than democratic revival.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

These elections represent the first legislative vote since 2006 and could reshape Palestinian governance at a time of eroding PA authority, fiscal crisis, and increased Hamas popularity in the West Bank since the October 7 attack. A credible vote could renew international donor confidence and provide a legitimate mandate, but a flawed or canceled process risks deepening authoritarianism and internal strife. The outcome will also affect succession dynamics, as Abbas’s son’s political ascent signals potential dynastic consolidation, with implications for the peace process and stability in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Watch For

Monitor whether the November 28 legislative elections proceed as scheduled or face postponement, the PA’s final decision on Hamas’s participation or any de facto arrangements, reactions from EU donor states at the upcoming meeting, and internal Fatah maneuverings around succession, particularly Yasser Abbas’s role. Also track any statements from Israel regarding East Jerusalem voting rights and from Hamas on its strategy for the West Bank ballot.