A media fuss intended by Abbas to obtain the satisfaction of Biden
The new Palestinian elections are just talk without action
Abbas is still president of the Palestinian Authority 16 years after Arafat's death.
EPA
The second presidential elections in 2005 came in the wake of the Second Intifada and provided new hope in the Palestinian territories.
Father
Shtayyeh said that he hopes to see Abbas as a candidate in the upcoming elections, despite his old age.
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16 years ago, I stood in a queue outside a primary school in the city of Ramallah in the Palestinian West Bank, to confirm my name on the registration and voting list, in the first Palestinian elections since 1996, the 2005 presidential elections were the only time I participated in local elections, and I remember feeling Excited about being part of the decision-making process in the Palestinian territories, when I put blue ink on my index finger.
Now it seems that I will have another chance to be elected again, but circumstances are very different.
The 2005 presidential elections came in the wake of the second intifada, and provided new hope in the Palestinian territories, which were in a shattered state as a result of the return of the comprehensive Israeli invasion and the death of the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, who had appointed the former Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, who enjoys the support. Fatah »and the United States, in order to succeed him in the leadership of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and in those years the" Hamas "movement, and some small leftist parties, were the only opponents of" Fatah ".
Abbas easily won the elections, achieved a high number of votes, and seemed to have enough authorization to start implementing his agenda, as he began peace negotiations with Israel and ended armed resistance to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and Abbas at that time considered the elections an indicator It is clear to the Palestinian aspirations for democracy, but at that time no one, including myself, was aware that the man who came to replace Arafat would remain president of the Palestinian Authority for another 16 years.
During these days, the Palestinians continue to live under the Israeli occupation, and they see Abbas integrate all the Palestinian representative institutions during his rule. Abbas does not preside over Fatah, the largest Palestinian political party and the ruling party in the West Bank, but rather he heads the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Which represents, even in theory, the Palestinians in the Palestinian territories and the diaspora, and this type of tripartite leadership has limited the results of electoral politics in the Palestinian territories, to the point that a recent opinion poll says that half of the Palestinians believe that the elections that will take place under such circumstances , It will neither be free nor fair.
An international requirement
The last time parliamentary elections were held, in 2006, Hamas achieved a decisive victory over Fatah, but the results were not agreed to by Israel and Western donors, and they reduced aid to the Palestinians, and in the end a big rift occurred between the Gaza Strip (which it governs) Hamas ”) and the West Bank (governed by“ Fatah ”), which is still a matter for now, and democracy in the Palestinian territories remained an international demand, until its result did not fit the agenda of the international community.
Pessimism about the Palestinian political process and lack of confidence in the leadership ability of "Fatah" and "Hamas" movements remain essential features of Palestinian society.
This is not the first time that the Palestinian Authority has called for elections since 2006, but in the past there were always reasons for canceling them, and sometimes the reasons were logistical and other times they were political.
And there is a recurring question, which is how elections can be held (or even peace negotiations) while Gaza and the West Bank are governed from two separate groups, and this separation between Gaza and the West Bank is very desirable by Israeli politicians, who say that the Palestinians are not suitable partners in peacemaking, However, the "Fatah" and "Hamas" movements do not have the option of agreement and political unity between them, as the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that he would treat Abbas and the Authority as he would deal with "Hamas" if it decided to agree with "Hamas" movement.
An afterthought
And if the idea of elections came late in 2020, then it can be assured that the Palestinian elections in 2021 will not happen at all, and when the legislative elections were held for the last time in 2006, the Israeli authorities worked to impede the elections in East Jerusalem, which they occupy and control. It is unclear whether Israel will allow any elections to take place in East Jerusalem now.
There is also the issue of internal Palestinian disputes, which made it nearly impossible to hold elections before.
Now, after Abbas has issued a decision to hold the elections, the Fatah and Hamas movements must agree on the security apparatus responsible for ensuring the elections, and on the court that will preside over the judicial disputes that could arise from them.
Hamas immediately rejected the authority of the newly formed administrative courts, which Abbas had established to arbitrate disputes resulting from the elections.
Priority for the organization
Indeed, overcoming some of these obstacles makes it easy to imagine a situation in which elections are applicable and necessary, and the most important priority preceding the elections must be the revitalization of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which, although it was previously considered the sole representative of the Palestinian people, However, it has long since become a worn out rubber stamp that Abbas uses to prolong his stay in power, and the dialogue of "Fatah" and "Hamas" must be in this context.
This institutional reform must ensure that "Hamas" and other Palestinian groups are able to become a member of the "Liberation Organization". "Hamas" has always been a thorn in the side of the "Liberation Organization", since its inception in 1987, when it played the role of the religious alternative To the organization that considered that it gave up its weapons in exchange for peace with Israel.
There are many ways that "Hamas" can join the Palestine Liberation Organization, but the most famous of these methods circulating in diplomatic circles suggests that "Hamas" must formally separate its political and military wings, as Fatah did in order to join the committee. The executive branch of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and all parties must make the necessary concessions to ensure the formation of a united Palestinian front.
Fatah and Hamas could present a list of their candidates in the Palestinian legislative elections, scheduled for this spring, if Hamas agreed not to present a candidate for the presidential elections this summer. Surprisingly, the prime minister, Muhammad Shtayyeh, said he wanted In seeing Abbas, who is 85 years old and in poor health, as a candidate for the elections again, and unfortunately, comparisons are now being made between Abbas and the former Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who remained in power for 20 years, although it was clear that he was unable to do anything. Something as a result of getting old.
This scenario will not bring the Palestinian political scene closer to democratic renewal. Rather, it is a carefully designed electoral dance, and represents an attempt by Abbas to stay in power and benefit from the sympathy of the President, Joe Biden's administration, with the authority, but at the same time it shows Western donors and the international community that power The Palestinian Authority is committed to democratic standards. In fact, the recent election attempt called by the Palestinian Authority is not intended to encourage good governance and democracy. Rather, it is a bang intended to shed light on some manifestations of unity, at a time when the Biden administration came to power in Washington, and hopes Abbas gets Biden's approval and returns to peace negotiations with Israel.
A comprehensive institutional reform
Ultimately, the Palestinians cannot hope for successful elections, be they legislative, presidential or local, without comprehensive institutional reform, and Israel must also be prepared to negotiate publicly with the new leadership that could include Hamas. It is known to everyone that Israel negotiated with this group constantly, through Egyptian mediators, and accordingly, this does not constitute a big issue, and the United States must learn how to accept the results of free and fair elections, even if the results did not like them, and only then can they be The elections are a true exercise of national unity, which represents a dire need for the Palestinians.
Dalia Ben Haddouka is a journalist based in the United States and the West Bank
Pessimism remains
About the process
Palestinian political and lack of confidence
With the power of Fatah and Hamas
On driving,
One of the basic features of Palestinian society.
The most important priority before the elections should be the revitalization of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which, although it was previously considered the only representative of the Palestinian people, has long since become a worn out rubber stamp that Abbas uses to prolong his stay in power. Dialogue between "Fatah" and "Hamas" movements in this context.
Palestinians cannot hope for successful elections, be they legislative, presidential, or local, without comprehensive institutional reform.
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