Limited Enthusiasm for Upcoming Palestinian Local Elections

On April 25, 2024, local elections will be held across the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, marking the first electoral event since the onset of the war in October 2023. Approximately 1.5 million voters are registered in the West Bank, alongside 70,000 in Gaza's central Deir el-Balah area, according to the Central Elections Commission based in Ramallah. However, there is a notable lack of enthusiasm among the electorate, largely attributed to a new electoral law enacted by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The recent electoral law mandates that all candidates must align with the Palestine Liberation Organisation's (PLO) charter and goals to qualify for registration. This requirement has drawn criticism from various quarters. Khomini Suleiman, a car parts dealer from Beit Ur, expressed his discontent, stating, “The issue of agreements related to the PLO? I don’t agree with this at all,” and indicated he would abstain from voting. Observers have noted that this law has effectively narrowed the political landscape, with many candidates unable to participate. A Palestinian elections expert remarked, “The truth is that political parties have effectively disappeared from the Palestinian political scene.”

The electoral lists predominantly feature candidates from Abbas's Fatah party or independents, with no representation from Hamas. This absence of Hamas-affiliated candidates has been noted by experts, who suggest that the group is intentionally opting out of the electoral process. Despite some positive aspects of the new law, such as lowering the candidacy age to 18 and increasing the women's quota to 25%, critics highlight that it consolidates power within the Palestinian Authority by transferring municipal powers to the local government ministry.

In many cities, including Ramallah, only one candidate list has been submitted, resulting in automatic victories without a vote. Raeda Barghouti, a resident of Kobar, expressed excitement about her village voting for the first time in a decade, as previous elections had only one candidate list. Conversely, Mohammad al-Taj, a self-identified PLO member, stated that the ongoing challenges posed by Israeli settler attacks and the occupation render local elections of “secondary” importance.

In Gaza, the Palestinian Authority is conducting elections only in Deir el-Balah as a trial to gauge its effectiveness post-war. Political scientist Jamal al-Fadi noted that this area was selected because its population has largely remained intact despite the conflict. The election commission has arranged for polling staff from civil society organizations and has engaged a private security company to ensure the safety of polling centers. Coordination with Israeli authorities is reportedly indirect, handled through COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs.

The upcoming local elections in the Palestinian territories reflect a complex interplay of political maneuvering, public sentiment, and the overarching impact of ongoing conflict. As the date approaches, the lack of enthusiasm and the implications of the new electoral law continue to shape the narrative surrounding this electoral process.