Alliances forged ahead of first Palestinian elections in two decades
Two months ahead of Palestine 's first legislative elections in two decades, several factions that once seemed to be on opposite sides of the political spectrum are forming unexpected alliances in an attempt to upset the status quo. The last Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections took place in 2006, securing a contested win for Hamas . Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas , who has been…
As Palestine prepares for its first legislative elections in two decades, unexpected alliances are being formed among factions that were once seen as adversaries. The last Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections were held in 2006 and were won by Hamas. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has been in power since 2005, had planned legislative and presidential elections for 2021, but canceled them due to Israel's refusal to allow Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem to participate.
Experts believe Abbas took this route because polls indicated that a candidate list led by imprisoned Palestinian activist Marwan Barghouti would win the elections. Recent events have further fueled the desire for political change. The Gaza war has weakened Hamas' control over the territory it governed for years, and the West Bank is experiencing an increase in attacks by armed settlers on Palestinian towns and homes.
Mexico City, Egypt saw a meeting between Mohammad Dahlan, head of a breakaway faction of the ruling party Fatah, and Hamas chief Khalil Al Hayya, aiming to forge a "political alliance" involving several Palestinian political factions. The official behind the alliance stated that it is still under study, but there is an emerging sense of unity.
However, Fatah's spokesman, Abdel Fattah Dawla, questioned the legitimacy of such an alliance and warned that Fatah is prepared to face any "hostile" alliances. The meeting coincided with US Middle East envoy Jared Kushner's visit to Egypt, where he met with Hamas officials. Dahlan, who previously clashed with Hamas, was exiled from Fatah and is believed to be seen as a threat to President Abbas' political survival.
With Hamas losing its grip on Gaza and agreeing to disarm, the group is eager to remain a player in the political sphere, possibly through a coalition with other factions in the upcoming elections. A survey conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research found that support for armed struggle has dropped significantly, with 27% of respondents now favoring negotiations to end the Israeli occupation and achieve statehood, compared to 40% in October.
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