From Nationalpost · · 50s
Palestinian activist claims Abbas delayed elections to cling to power
Palestinian activist says Abbas postponed Palestinian elections to stay in power, not due to Israeli obstacles.
In brief
Palestinian activist says Abbas postponed Palestinian elections to stay in power, not due to Israeli obstacles. Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi claims Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas delayed elections to retain power, not because of Israeli 'obstacles' as officials state. Originally reported by…
Palestinian activist claims
Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi says Palestinian Authority postponed next month's elections to cling to power, not because of Israeli obstacles.
“The main reason to postpone the election was that the current leadership would like to keep its power”
Abbas delays elections
President Mahmoud Abbas postponed Palestinian legislative and presidential elections until September 2027, citing Israeli obstacles.
“President Mahmoud Abbas announced the postponement of legislative elections as well as the presidential elections until September 2027, citing "obstacles posed by Israeli measures" as the reason for the postponement of "free, fair and inclusive elections."”
Israeli response
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called Abbas' decree "yet another ridiculous lie designed to evade responsibility and accountability."
“yet another ridiculous lie designed to evade responsibility and accountability”
Election delay impact
Sinijlawi warns that using Gaza and West Bank conditions as reasons for postponement will prevent Palestinian elections from ever happening.
“The situation in Gaza might not be perfect, and the situation in the West Bank is not perfect... if we keep using them (as a reason to postpone), we will never have elections.”
What matters most
Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi claims Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas delayed elections to retain power, not because of Israeli 'obstacles' as officials state.
