Palestinian Vote Delayed, Prolonging Split for West Bank and Gaza
President Mahmoud Abbas said elections could not take place unless Israel allowed voting in East Jerusalem. But privately, he also fears a poor result for his party, officials said.
Palestinians rallying in Gaza City on Thursday in support of holding the elections.Credit.Mohammed Salem/Reuters
Published April 29, 2021Updated May 10, 2021
JERUSALEM When the Palestinian Authority called in January for parliamentary elections, many Palestinians hoped the vote the first in the occupied territories since 2006 would revive Palestinian discourse, re-energize the independence movement and end a 14-year division between Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.