EU calls on ‘Israel’ to facilitate elections in Palestine
The European Union on Friday urged the occupation state of ‘Israel’ to enable elections across the entire Palestinian territories and expressed regret over delayed vote.
“The decision to postpone the planned Palestinian elections, including the legislative elections originally scheduled for 22 May, is deeply disappointing,” the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said in a written statement.
The statement added, “The EU has consistently expressed its support for credible, inclusive and transparent elections for all Palestinians.”
Borrell also stated that the EU is “firmly believe that strong, inclusive, accountable and functioning democratic Palestinian institutions based on respect for the rule of law and human rights are vital for the Palestinian people, for democratic legitimacy and, ultimately, for the two-state solution.”
The EU also said it “encourage all Palestinian actors to resume efforts to build on the successful talks between the factions over recent months. A new date for elections should be set without delay.”
The EU also reiterated the call on the occupation state of ‘Israel’ to facilitate the holding of the elections across all of the Palestinian territory, including in East Jerusalem.
The EU also called for “calm and restraint from all actors at this sensitive time.”
Palestine: 🇪🇺 disappointed by postponement of elections. This vote is vital for functioning 🇵🇸 democratic institutions. New date should be set w/out delay. We reiterate call on 🇮🇱 to facilitate elections across all 🇵🇸 territory including #EastJerusalem https://t.co/wJ3ClFZ4kD
— Peter Stano (@ExtSpoxEU) April 30, 2021
President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday delayed planned parliamentary elections amid a dispute over voting in East Jerusalem and splits in his Fatah party.
Abbas blamed the occupation state for uncertainty about whether it would allow the legislative election to proceed in Jerusalem as well as in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
‘Israel’ has yet to say whether it would allow voting by mail there as in past elections and has enforced a ban on Palestinian Authority activities, including campaign events.
President Mahmud Abbas said that legislative, presidential and National Council elections would be held in the coming months, as part of a warming of ties between Fatah and Hamas.
The elections are supposed to be held under decree issued by President Mahmoud Abbas in three stages: the legislative on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and the elections for the National Council on August 31.
The last Palestinian elections for the Legislative Council were held in 2006, and Hamas won the majority, while presidential elections were held in 2005, and President Abbas won.
