Reuters reported Friday that Abbas’s deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh, informed France that parliamentary elections scheduled for November 28 will be delayed by several months due to deteriorating conditions in Israel’s Judea and Samaria. According to al-Sheikh: “The assessment concluded that the political, security, and economic circumstances expected, on which the November 28, 2026 election date was based, have not materialized.” With this move, the Palestinian Authority and Abbas will mark over 21 years without holding elections.
In a flailing attempt to justify the situation, the longtime terrorist murderer from Ramallah chose to blame Israel. The report stated that “riots” by Jewish residents, combined with billions in ‘Palestinian’ funds that Israel is holding and not transferring to the terror organization masquerading as a government, the ‘Palestinian’ ‘Authority,’ made conditions impossible for holding elections.
The timing of the postponement—during the week marking the anniversary of the October 7 massacre—was also reported as deliberate. According to another report, the ‘Palestinian’ ‘Authority’ asked Israel to allow its election committee members into East Jerusalem and Gaza. The PA reportedly hoped that the proximity to the massacre anniversary would cause Israel to deny the request—thus helping them justify canceling the elections. It was not specified whether Israel approved entry for committee members or not.
However, the real reason likely behind the cancellation is the growing influence of terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The Associated Press reported last week that Hamas and Islamic Jihad agreed to form an “unexpected election coalition” with former Fatah ‘official’ and advisor to the UAE president, Mohammed Dahlan—aiming to topple Abbas’s rule.
The terror organizations hoped to exploit the rare election to gain control of Judea and Samaria for the first time. According to the Islamic Jihad terrorist who was platformed by the news agency, the terror groups believe their combination with the Fatah terrorist would succeed in defeating terrorist-in-a-suit Abbas in elections among Arab residents of Israel’s Judea and Samaria.
As of now, it appears the terror organizations’ plan will have to wait several months, though there’s a strong chance it won’t materialize at all. The jihadist Abbas, who will celebrate his 91st birthday next month, has not held elections since seizing power in 2005 and most likely won’t. Beyond that, commentators in Arab media believe that even after he dies and his deputy replaces him—this pattern will continue.