Western pressure on Palestinian elections questioned

Rami Abou Jamous, writing for Orient XXI, questions the pressure from Western countries on Palestine to hold legislative elections during the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, has postponed the planned elections for a year, a move reportedly opposed by France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Gaza’s dire situation

Abou Jamous notes that the current situation in Gaza is dire, with the enclave reduced to 30% of its original area. The population survives in poverty, under makeshift camps, and endures daily missile strikes and drone attacks, making it extremely difficult to organize elections.

Logistical challenges for elections

He highlights the logistical challenges of holding elections, noting that the electoral commission has no right to enter Gaza. Necessary equipment, including ballot boxes, ink, and paper, cannot be imported, and international observers would also be unable to participate due to the ongoing conflict and restrictions.

Calls for humanitarian aid

Abou Jamous argues that before pressuring the Palestinian Authority to hold elections, Western countries should demand that Israel increase humanitarian aid. He also calls for allowing more medical treatment for Palestinians and permitting the import of essential items such as lighters, construction materials, and water.

Criticism of Israeli occupation

In the West Bank, Abou Jamous criticizes the Israeli occupation, including the separation wall and the presence of armed settlers. He mentions attacks on an American journalist and a French mayor, and questions the feasibility of holding elections in the West Bank under current conditions.

Concerns about Hamas’s potential victory

Abou Jamous raises concerns about the potential consequences if Hamas were to win the elections. He notes that Western countries previously rejected the 2006 election results when Hamas won, suggesting that the current stance on Palestinian elections is inconsistent.

Israeli strategy and occupation control

He argues that the push for Palestinian reform is an Israeli strategy to buy time and maintain control. He points out that the Israeli occupation controls infrastructure, education, and daily life in the Palestinian territories, with the West often complicit in these actions.

Postponement by multiple factions

Abou Jamous emphasizes that all Palestinians desire elections but with real sovereignty and an end to the ongoing suffering. He notes that the decision to postpone the elections was not made by Mahmoud Abbas alone but by various Palestinian factions, including the PLO, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, due to political considerations and the current unrest among the population.