News

Abbas says to issue decree for January polls in Palestine, World Bulletin (2009)

Palestinian president Abbas announced that he will issue a decree to hold presidential and parliamentary elections by January 24, 2010.

Threat of Palestinian divide as Mahmoud Abbas calls elections, Telegraph (2009)

President Abbas issued a decree to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on January 24, 2010, which was immediately condemned by Hamas.

Hamas in Gaza elections warning, BBC News (2009)

After rejecting the January 2010 elections perceived as illegal, Hamas has told Palestinians in the Gaza strip not to take part in these elections called by Palestinian President Abbas.

Abbas Aides: Palestinian Leader Will Not Seek Re-Election, VOA News (2009)

Palestinian officials say President Abbas does not intend to run in the January elections. This decision was announced at the meeting of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Abbas is expected to give a speech on the issue later on as well.

Palestinian January elections cancelled, Telegraph (2009)

Presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for January 2010 are postponed until the objections of Hamas are overcome.

Palestinian municipal elections set for July 17, Forbes (2010)

The Palestinian government in the West Bank has announced that the municipal elections will be held on July 17. This will be the first election in the Palestinian territories since Hamas took control of Gaza. Municipal elections should also be held in Gaza, but it is unlikely that Hamas will agree. The municipality elections are seen as a popularity test for Abbas' Fatah.

Palestinian Authority To Hold Elections Without Gaza, National Public Radio (2010)

The Palestinian Authority will hold elections this summer without the participation of the Gaza Strip. The militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, has refused to allow elections to take place in the coastal enclave until a reconciliation agreement is signed between Hamas and Fatah, the party that dominates in the West Bank.

Palestine: The CEC publishes the final voter registry, Central Elections Commission (2010)

The Central Elections Commission (CEC) has officially published the final voter registry which includes the names of eligible voters in each locality and provided copies of it to accredited political parties. The number of eligible voters who are entitled to participate in the upcoming local elections reached 862773 distributed to the 302 localities in the West Bank where local elections will be held on July 17.

Palestine: Hamas to boycott W. Bank elections, The Jerusalem Post (2010)

The Palestinian Authority is planning to hold municipal elections in the West Bank, but representatives from Hamas and the Islamist movement will boycott the polls.

Elections in Palestine, again, Media Monitors Network (2010)

The Palestinian Authority confirmed its plans to hold elections on July 17. The level of participation will be a very important indicator of President Abbas' credibility and political strength: his opponents in Hamas are inviting its supporters not to participate.

Fatah may seek Palestinian election delay, UPI (2010)

This article discusses the potential postponement of next month's elections because of internal riffs within the Palestinian Fatah movement.

UPDATE 2-Fatah divisions force delay of Palestinian vote, Reuters Africa (2010)

This article is an update on the local elections in Palestine. The elections have been postponed as divisions within the Fatah group have prevented them from producing a unified list.

Fatah Clearly Ahead of Hamas Among Palestinians, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

A recent poll indicates that if the election were to take place today that more people would vote for Fatah than Hamas. Both Hamas and Fatah had agreed to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in January 2010, but a timing for new elections has not yet been set.

Palestinian local polls postponed, Aljazeera (2010)

The Palestinian Authority has indefinitely postponed local elections scheduled for July 17.

Palestinian Supreme Court annuls PA decision to postpone local Elections, Qatar News Agency (2010)

This news article is about the Palestinian Supreme Court in Ramallah which annulled on Monday 13 Dec, a June decision by the Palestinian Authority cabinet to postpone municipal elections.

Palestine: PA Cabinet Sets new date for local elections, Ma'an News Agency (2010)

This news article is about the appointed government cabinet which said on Monday 20 Dec; that it intended to enforce last week's Supreme Court decision which called the decision to postpone municipal elections illegal, and mandated that new elections be held immediately.

Palestinian factions demand local elections, Ma'an News Agency (2011)

This news is about the joint follow up committee of the leftist and democratic election lists which Sunday 16 Jan, called on the Palestinian Authority to hold local elections by the end of May.

Palestinians to hold local elections July 9, Washington Post (2011)

This news article is about the Palestinian Authority which on Tuesday set long-overdue local council elections for July 9 in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the government spokesman said. The rival Hamas government that rules Gaza promptly rejected the move.

Palestinian cabinet 'resigns' as part of reshuffle, BBC (2011)

In this news article; ministers in the Palestinian government have resigned as part of a cabinet reshuffle, officials say. On Saturday, 13 Feb; the Palestinian Authority led by Mr Abbas said it wanted to hold presidential and legislative elections by September.

Palestine: Abbas: No elections if Gaza doesn’t take part, Las Vegas Sun

In this news article; Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that elections won't be held by September as planned if the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers won't allow balloting there. Abbas' West Bank-based government called the long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections over the weekend, but the rival Islamic Hamas has said Gaza will not take part in the vote.

Palestine: Fatah supports, others object to postponement of local Elections, Palestine News Agency (2011)

In this news article, Fatah central committee member Mahmoud Al-Aloul Tuesday justified the Palestinian Authority’s decision to postpone local elections saying it came at the request of Hamas in order to hold elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip at the same time.

Palestine: Abbas to present Hamas general elections offer, Xinhua (2011)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will present an offer of general elections to rival Hamas movement , a senior official said Wednesday 19 October.

Palestine: 'Abbas says he'll plan elections with Hamas, but won't run', JPost (2011)

In this news; PA president tells senior Fatah members that he'll discuss elections with Hamas's Mashaal in Cairo, wont seek reelection.

Palestinian official: Rival Fatah and Hamas movements agree to hold elections next May, Washington Post (2011)

In this news article; The rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have agreed to hold elections next May , in what would be a major step toward ending a four-year rift. The plan calls for the establishment of a caretaker government to prepare for the vote — most likely without current Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

Palestine: Islamic Jihad mulls elections, Xinhua (2011)

This news article says that the second largest Islamist group in the Gaza Strip said Sunday (20 Nov), it was studying running in Palestinian general elections after firmly boycotting all previous polls. Abbas and Mashaal will try to implement a reconciliation agreement brokered by Egypt in May. The agreement envisions a technocratic government ruling Gaza and the West Bank until elections, initially expected in May 2012.

Hamas says Palestinians quietly decide to keep rival governments until elections, Fatah denies, Washington Post (2011)

The Palestinians’ rival leaders have quietly decided to keep their respective governments in the West Bank and Gaza in place until elections, a senior Hamas figure told The Associated Press. A representative of Hamas’ rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, denied that such a deal was struck. Abbas envoy Azzam al-Ahmed insisted there was no agreement and “no possibility of holding elections without a unity government.”

Palestine: Palestinian president sets May 4 as date for elections in West Bank and Gaza, Washington Post (2011)

This news article says that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday (28 Nov), set May 4 as the date for general elections meant to end a long-standing rift that has left his people divided between rival governments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinians mull reviving parliament at Cairo talks, Khaleej Times (2011)

This news article says that Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo were mulling on Wednesday (21 December), ways to reactivate their national parliament, which has been paralysed since 2007 following the split between the West Bank and Gaza. On Tuesday, delegates had agreed to set up a new electoral commission and also set a deadline for the formation of a caretaker cabinet of independents as envisaged in the May agreement. During the talks, the factions agreed to form a nine-member Central Election Commission under the committee’s current head, Hanna Nasser.

Palestine: Zahhar: Hamas will sweep to victory in next elections, Maan News Agency (2011)

In this news article, Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar said Sunday 25 December, that his movement would win a sweeping victory in upcoming legislative elections due in May. Zahhar said that Hamas would improve on their 2006 election victory, where they won 74 of an available 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Palestine: Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to step down from his position, The Guardian (2012)

This news article says that Khaled Meshaal, the political chief of Hamas, is to step down from his position when elections for the leadership of the Palestinian Islamist organisation take place in the next few months, according to a senior colleague.

Palestine: Elections could be cancelled , Gulf News (2012)

The Palestinian National Authority is mulling whether to cancel presidential and parliamentary elections slated for May 4. It says that Hamas is failing to adhere to reconciliation commitments.

Palestine: Fatah, Hamas delay elections, National Post (2012)

This news article says that the Rival Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas are delaying implementation of their reconciliation accord, paying lip-service to the deal while each pursues its own agenda, analysts say.

Palestine: Abbas named as candidate for prime minister, Maan News Agency (2012)

This news article says that President Abbas has been put forward as a candidate for prime minster of an interim government. The proposal was made as Abbas and Hamas chief-in-exile Khalid Mashaal agreed to form a unity government during a Sunday meeting (5 Feb), in the Qatari capital.

Palestine: PLC chief: Not illegal for Abbas to head govt, Maan News Agency (2012)

This news article says that the secretary-general of the Palestinian parliament said Thursday 9 Feb, that President Mahmoud Abbas faces no legal problems in taking on the role of prime minister, as agreed by Hamas and Fatah leaders last week.

Palestine: Fatah links gov't formation to progress in elections file: official, People's Daily Online (2012)

In this news article; Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party wants progress to be made on the preparation for elections before an interim government is formed, an official said Tuesday 21 Feb. Abbas will not start discussions to select members of his government before he agrees with rival Hamas movement "on practical steps," said Jamal Muhissen, a member of Fatah Central Committee.

Palestine: PLO official warns against forming gov't without deal on elections, People's Daily Online

In this news article, forming an interim government before agreeing on elections will weaken the entire Palestinian political system, a Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official warned Sunday 26 Feb.

Palestine: Hamas official says no elections without West Bank freedoms, Maan News Agency (2012)

In this news article, Hamas refuses to hold elections until they can operate freely in the West Bank, Hamas senior official Khalil al-Hayya said Monday 5 March.

Palestinian division responsible for election delay, Gulf News (2012)

In this news article; Palestinian political stagnation continues and people are blaming Hamas' internal divisions particularly revolving around upcoming elections for the party

Palestinians take steps toward holding elections, LA Times (2012)

This news article says that Hanna Nasser, the chairman of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission, met in the Gaza Strip with Hamas leader there, Ismail Haniyeh, and later said the panel will immediately begin work on updating its Gaza voter registry. The effort will take at least six weeks to complete, he said.

Palestine: Hamas says Abbas changing requirements of reconciliation, Ma'an News Agency (2012)

Hamas on Sunday 24 June, accused President Mahmoud Abbas of changing the requirements of reconciliation by insisting for an election date before forming a unity government. Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation treaty in May 2011 and agreed to form a transitional government to prepare for elections within a year.

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Palestine: Hamas suspends voter registration process in Gaza, New York Times (2012)

In this news article, the Hamas-run government in Gaza suspended the work of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission on Monday, a day before it was to start registering new voters, abruptly halting one of the few tangible steps toward reconciliation with the rival Fatah party, based in the West Bank.

Palestine: Cabinet to soon set date for local Elections, WAFA (2012)

This news says the Palestinian cabinet decided on Tuesday 3 July to mandate Minister of Local Government Khaled Qawasmi to make all necessary preparations to hold local elections, said a statement issued following the weekly cabinet meeting held in Ramallah. A date for the elections will be set in the next cabinet meeting.

Palestinians call local elections for October 20, France 24 (2012)

This news article says the Palestinian government in the West Bank called Tuesday for local elections to be held in the West Bank and Gaza on October 20, the first since 2006, an official said. The decision followed two such calls for local elections last year, with the Palestinian government in the West Bank seeking to hold the vote first in July 2011 and then in October 2011.