New decrees by Abbas restrict Palestinian civil society
New decrees by Abbas restrict Palestinian civil society
Mahmoud Abbas is apparently promoting the elections in order to burnish the P.A.’s democratic image and gain the approval of the Biden administration, while at the same time using the decrees to cement his one-man rule.
By S. Schneidmann
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas casts his vote at P.A. headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Dec. 3, 2016. Photo by Flash90.
(March 16, 2021 / MEMRI) Two presidential decrees recently issued by Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas aroused intense criticism in the P.A. The first, issued on March 2, imposes severe restrictions on the activity and finances of Palestinian civil society organizations.[1] The second, issued three days later, on March 5, suspends internal elections in all Palestinian professional unions for six months.[2]