In a move designed to appease the Trump administration, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is seeking to prevent Hamas from participating in the upcoming municipal election.
The 90-year-old Abbas, who has been under pressure from the American administration to implement major reforms in PA institutions, has decided to set conditions for Palestinian parties' nominees planning to run in the local elections scheduled for April.
In a "presidential decree," Abbas introduced an amendment to the election law, stating that any candidate who intends to run must first recognize the PLO, its policies, and UN resolutions pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"Candidates must accept the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," Abbas said in his decree. "They must commit to the PLO's political program and related international resolutions."
The decree, while not mentioning Hamas by name, appears to set restrictions that would prevent its members from running in the elections, since they reject the PLO's political program, especially its decision to recognize the state of Israel as part of signing the Oslo Accords.
The terror group does not recognize Israel's right to exist. In addition, it does not regard the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinians and has refused to join its various bodies. Deep disagreements between the radical Islamic group and the Fatah-led Palestinian leadership in Ramallah have kept Hamas outside the PLO.
Abbas's decree is not only aimed at signaling his seriousness about implementing reforms but also at blocking his rivals from gaining political influence through elections.
The move is directed mainly at Hamas, who may try to reestablish presence in the West Bank
A Palestinian source said that the move is directed mainly against Hamas. Other Palestinians added that, with the group now weakened in Gaza, it'll try to reestablish itself in the West Bank. Having a presence in local councils could help the group achieve that, they said.
According to some Palestinians, Hamas continues to enjoy public support both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Abbas's decision has drawn criticism from Hamas and other Palestinian groups, saying, "it is a grave assault on the people's right to choose their representatives."
The vote will take place in 420 villages, towns, and cities in the West Bank. The Palestinian Central Election Committee is also preparing to hold a vote in the Deir al-Balah council in central Gaza.
The last municipal election in the West Bank took place in 2021. Then, Hamas officially boycotted the vote, although some of its loyalists are believed to have run separately on independent tickets.
Palestinians attach importance to municipal elections as, in their view, they reflect the power among different political factions at the broader level.
As part of the planned reforms, Abbas has said he is also committed to holding general elections. The last parliamentary elections, which resulted in Hamas victory, were held in January 2006. The last presidential elections, which saw Abbas elected as the second PA president, took place a year earlier.