Abbas Signals Preparedness for Elections Amid Gaza Reconstruction Efforts

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, has expressed his readiness to hold presidential and parliamentary elections within the year, contingent upon suitable conditions. He announced plans to create a vice-presidential role and offer amnesty to expelled Fatah members at an Arab League summit focused on Gaza reconstruction. Notably, the last elections in Palestine occurred in 2005 and 2006, amid political stagnation.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has declared his readiness to conduct presidential and parliamentary elections within the upcoming year, contingent upon suitable circumstances. He made this announcement during an Arab League summit in Cairo, where discussions focused on the reconstruction of Gaza. Furthermore, Abbas introduced plans to create a vice-presidential position in his government and to extend amnesty to expelled members of his Fatah party.

At the summit, Abbas emphasized the need for a vice-presidential role, a request expressed by foreign supporters of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which operates from the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Abbas, who has held office since 2005 following Yasser Arafat’s death, has not faced an election since his four-year term began in 2006.

In his remarks, Abbas stated, “We are fully prepared to hold general presidential and legislative elections next year, provided that the appropriate conditions are met in Gaza, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem.” Among the expelled members that could benefit from the amnesty announcement is Mohammed Dahlan, a former security chief in Gaza, currently residing in the UAE and perceived as a significant figure in Gaza’s governance post-conflict.

The Palestinian president reiterated the PA’s singular legitimacy during the summit. He had previously suggested that Arab nations might consider sending troops to assist in establishing order in post-war Gaza, indicating that financial support from Saudi Arabia and the UAE could be pivotal for reconstruction efforts. Consequently, the last presidential election occurred in January 2005, while legislative elections were held in January 2006, with subsequent internal conflicts halting political progress in the region.

President Mahmoud Abbas’s announcement of his willingness to hold elections within a year marks a significant development in Palestinian politics, contingent on the conditions in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The introduction of a vice-presidential role and amnesty for expelled members of Fatah may reshape the political landscape. As the PA continues to assert its authority and seek support for Gaza’s reconstruction, the proposal of elections signifies a potential shift towards renewed political engagement.

Original Source: www.france24.com