Palestinian Elections

Marvel actors join campaign calling for release of Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti

Barghouti is a former leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a terrorist organization that carried out many suicide bombings and shooting attacks during the Second Intifada.

|ByJONAH DAVIDOV, MATHILDA HELLER
MARWAN BARGHOUTI is escorted in handcuffs by police into Jerusalem Magistrates Court in 2012.
Hamas militants stand guard near a stage before releasing Israeli hostage Agam Berger to a Red Cross team in Jabalia on January 30, 2025, as part of their third hostage-prisoner exchange; illustrative

Hamas plans to run in upcoming Palestinian elections, to prioritize status quo at al-Aqsa Mosque

Elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council are set to go ahead on November 28, the first in 20 years after Hamas won in January 2006. Hamas won 74 of the seats, with Fatah following behind.

|ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah (L) and Hamas politburo member Khalil al-Hayya.

Mahmoud Abbas's election promise won't bring democracy to Palestinians - opinion

It would be naïve to assume that Mahmoud Abbas’ announcement of elections is a sign of democratization

|ByMERIT HABIB MATTA
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas waves as he arrives for the opening the Fatah youth conference in Ramallah on November 27, 2025.

The Palestinian Authority is not ideal. It is necessary for Gaza - opinion

A reformed PA is not a perfect solution, but it is the most viable option for replacing Hamas as Gaza’s governing authority.

|ByJONAH NAGHI

Palestinian factions agree on election mechanisms

No agreement to end Fatah-Hamas rivalry.

FEBRUARY 9, 2021ByKHALED ABU TOAMEH
PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT Mahmoud Abbas reacts to the Mideast peace plan Wednesday in Ramallah – ‘A thousand no’s’.

Hamas: Enormous differences with Fatah may scuttle elections

“The Fatah-Hamas dispute cannot be solved through presidential decrees.”

FEBRUARY 6, 2021ByKHALED ABU TOAMEH
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY President Mahmoud Abbas gestures during a meeting to discuss the UAE’S deal with Israel to normalize relations, in Ramallah last month.

Why did Russia invite Abbas rivals to Moscow?

The high-ranking delegation invited to Moscow was headed by Samir al-Mashharawi, one of the founders of Dahlan’s Fatah Democratic Reform group.

JANUARY 30, 2021ByKHALED ABU TOAMEH
MOHAMMED DAHLAN, a former Fatah security chief, gestures in his office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last year.

Shtayyeh: Israel must allow Jerusalem Arabs to participate in elections

The PA will also ask the European Union to send observers to monitor the elections, Shtayyeh added.

JANUARY 18, 2021ByKHALED ABU TOAMEH
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh in Ramallah. August 25, 2020

Palestinian women: Increase in Council representation not enough

President Mahmoud Abbas amends election law, raising quota for women in Palestinian Authority legislature to 26%, not the promised 30%.

JANUARY 15, 2021ByDIMA ABUMARIA/ THE MEDIA LINE
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends a virtual meeting with Palestinian factions over Israel and the United Arab Emirates' deal to normalize ties, in Ramallah in the West Bank September 3, 2020.

Elections in the PA: Not a magic wand

Does Israel really want Abbas to hold an election? Because what happens if he does, and the bad guys — Hamas — wins? Then what?

JANUARY 10, 2021ByHERB KEINON
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends a virtual meeting with Palestinian factions over Israel and the United Arab Emirates' deal to normalise ties, in Ramallah in the West Bank September 3, 2020.

Fatah official: Abbas won't seek reelection

In September, Abbas announced in a speech before the United Nations General Assembly that he intends to call for “general elections” in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.

NOVEMBER 5, 2019ByKHALED ABU TOAMEH
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas