The Election Committee Meets with the International Working Group on Elections

SadaNews - The Central Election Commission held a comprehensive meeting today, Monday, with the International Working Group on Elections, which includes representatives from donor countries and partnering international organizations, to discuss the latest developments related to the electoral process, review the progress made in the ongoing preparations for the 2026 local elections, and discuss the primary operational, logistical, and financial challenges in the upcoming phases.

The meeting took place at the Commission's headquarters in Al-Bireh, chaired by the head of the Central Election Commission, Dr. Rami Hamdallah, and the Deputy Representative of the European Union in Palestine, Mr. James Rezo.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Hamdallah welcomed the friendly and partnering nations supporting the work of the Central Election Commission, appreciating their pivotal role in supporting efforts to ensure the success of the electoral process, and emphasizing the commission's commitment to continue coordination and constructive communication with international partners to ensure the elections are held according to the highest professional and technical standards.

Dr. Hamdallah explained that the meeting aims to keep international partners continuously informed about the latest developments concerning the electoral process, sharing the main challenges and relevant needs related to the upcoming phases, in light of the current political, economic, and security conditions.

The head of the commission reviewed the electoral process, noting that the Central Election Commission has completed the voter registration phase with outstanding results, reaching one and a half million registered voters in the West Bank, which constitutes about 87% of the total eligible citizens for registration.

Dr. Hamdallah addressed the controversy raised about the clause regarding adherence to the Palestine Liberation Organization's program and its international commitments as a condition for candidacy, clarifying that the commission contacted His Excellency the President with a request to amend this condition to reach a consensus formula that ensures the broadest possible participation of all Palestinian citizens in the local elections. He added that the President issued a decree to amend this clause, which received positive reactions from political factions, parties, and civil society organizations, contributing to enhancing the inclination towards active participation in the electoral process.

Regarding the local elections in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Hamdallah clarified that the commission decided to hold elections in the city of Deir al-Balah simultaneously with conducting them in 420 local bodies in the West Bank to enhance political and geographical connectivity between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, confirming that it is impossible to conduct them in the remaining municipalities of the Strip at this stage, due to severe security and logistical conditions. He mentioned that the commission has contacted His Excellency the President to issue a decree granting it exceptional powers to enable it to conduct elections in Deir al-Balah amid the challenging field reality in the Gaza Strip.

Dr. Hamdallah also informed donors about the updates on the elections for the Palestinian National Council, noting that the commission received a presidential decree to hold the elections on November 1, 2026, and that it is studying the technical matters related to implementing the decision.

The meeting highlighted several challenges surrounding the electoral process, including significant amendments to the local elections law No. (23) of 2025, the adoption of two different electoral systems for the first time, the limited time allocated for awareness campaigns compared to the scale of legal changes, in addition to conducting elections in 420 local bodies in one day for the first time in Palestine.

Field and logistical challenges were also addressed, primarily the aggression on the Gaza Strip, the barriers, and incursions in the West Bank, affirming that these conditions are unprecedented in the history of the Palestinian electoral process.

Regarding the financial situation, Dr. Hamdallah explained the financial crisis faced by the Palestinian government, the Israeli side's delay in releasing clearance funds, and its direct impact on the commission's ability to receive the necessary funding, placing it in a critical financial situation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Central Election Commission expressed its gratitude and appreciation to the European Union for its sustained support for the commission over the past years and its recent commitment through a two-year project to enhance the commission's capacities and ensure the success of the electoral process. The commission also expressed its deep gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its pivotal role in facilitating financial support and ensuring the continuity of the commission's work according to the highest professional standards, in addition to thanking Australia for signing an agreement to support the electoral process through the United Nations, and appreciating Canada's commitment to providing similar support within the partnership aimed at enhancing the capacities of the Central Election Commission.

It is noteworthy that the sectoral working group dedicated to elections includes donor countries and institutions active in the field of democracy and good governance, chaired by the Election Commission, with the Ministry of Planning serving as its secretariat, and it holds periodic meetings to discuss the latest developments related to elections and democracy in Palestine.