Palestinian president postpones elections until late 2027

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed legislative elections for almost another year, according to a decree issued on Friday.Abbas had previously scheduled legislative elections for November 28, and presidential elections for early next year. Now both elections have been pushed back to September 11, 2027. They would be the first Palestinian elections in more than 20 years.Why are Palestinian elections postponed?In his decree, Abbas cited "obstacles ⁠posed by Israeli measures" as the reason for the postponement of "free, fair and inclusive elections."He pointed to Israeli settler violence, military attacks and restrictions of movent in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as Israel's continued withholding of tax revenue.In Gaza, where Israeli strikes continue after three years of war, the decree cited "exceptional security and humanitarian conditions," the incomplete withdrawal of Israeli forces and a lack of progress towards reconstruction, among other issues.A commitment to hold electionsAbbas had committed in writing to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that elections would be held as part of France's recognition of the State of Palestine last year.The delay comes just weeks after Abbas reaffirmed this commitment to hold elections in November when he delivered a video address to the UN General Assembly.Abbas has governed by decree since his presidential mandate expired in 2009.Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded to the news on X, calling the decree "yet another ridiculous lie designed to evade responsibility and accountability."