Don't cancel the Palestinian elections | Gershon Baskin
Dr. Gershon Baskin calls for not canceling the Palestinian Legislative Council elections, scheduled for November 28. He warns against the fear that President Mahmoud Abbas will cancel them, as he did in 2021, and analyzes the known reasons for this: uncertainty surrounding voting in East Jerusalem, the difficulty of holding elections in Gaza, internal political considerations, and the old guard's fear of an unfavorable outcome. Baskin argues that no reason justifies denying Palestinians their right to vote.
Dr. Gershon Baskin calls for not canceling the Palestinian Legislative Council elections, scheduled for November 28. He warns against the growing fear that President Mahmoud Abbas will cancel them, as he did in May 2021. Baskin analyzes the known reasons for this: uncertainty surrounding voting in East Jerusalem, the practical difficulty of holding elections in the Gaza Strip, internal political considerations, and especially the old guard's fear of an unfavorable outcome. He argues that none of these reasons can justify denying Palestinians their right to choose their leadership. Baskin emphasizes that the Palestinian political system suffers from a deep legitimacy crisis, and that elections are necessary to renew leadership and test public support. He addresses the issue of East Jerusalem and Gaza, and calls for finding alternative ways to ensure resident participation. Baskin argues that Israel also has a clear interest in the elections, as a Palestinian leadership with a democratic mandate can make difficult decisions and negotiate. He calls on the international community to support holding the elections.