President Trump, stand with Palestinian democracy - opinion
Palestinian political figure Samer Sinijlawi, founder of the Masar Jadid (New Path) movement, publishes an op-ed in The Jerusalem Post urging US President Donald Trump to publicly support the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for November 28, 2026. Sinijlawi argues that Trump's backing could prevent powerful figures from postponing or canceling the vote, which would be the first in two decades. He warns that canceling the elections would deepen the political vacuum, weaken moderate voices, and reinforce extremism. Sinijlawi presents his movement as a democratic alternative to both the existing Palestinian leadership and armed factions, advocating for a demilitarized Palestinian state and a negotiated two-state solution.
Palestinian political figure Samer Sinijlawi, founder and president of the Masar Jadid (New Path) movement, publishes an op-ed in The Jerusalem Post directly appealing to US President Donald Trump. Sinijlawi urges Trump to publicly endorse the Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for November 28, 2026, which would be the first such vote in two decades. He argues that Trump's clear public support could be decisive in preventing powerful figures within the Palestinian political establishment from postponing or canceling the elections. Sinijlawi warns that canceling the vote would deepen the political vacuum, weaken moderate voices, and reinforce Hamas's argument that change cannot be achieved through democratic means. He presents his own movement, New Path, as a democratic alternative that rejects both corruption and extremism, advocating for a demilitarized Palestinian state, regional economic integration, and a negotiated two-state solution. The op-ed frames Trump's recently announced peace initiative as a source of hope and argues that supporting Palestinian elections is an investment in a credible partner for peace.