The upcoming Palestinian elections.. a national entitlement and a political message the President wanted to convey to the world

The Palestinian issue is currently passing through one of its most sensitive and complex stages in decades, in light of a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, an unprecedented escalation of settlement and annexation in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the continued attempts by the occupation to impose new realities aimed at liquidating Palestinian national rights, foremost among them the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Amidst these dangerous transformations, talking about holding presidential and legislative elections is no longer a political luxury or a postponed entitlement, but rather a national, political, and constitutional necessity, and a clear message to the world affirming that the Palestinian people, despite the occupation and aggression, still adhere to the state option, to democratic values, and to their right to choose their representatives through ballot boxes.

The Israeli occupation continuously seeks to portray the Palestinian situation as an entity incapable of managing itself or building its institutions, and it exploits the state of division and the disruption of democratic life to promote its narrative before the international community, claiming the absence of a Palestinian partner capable of representing its people. From here, restoring the democratic process represents a practical and political response to these claims, and confirms that Palestine, despite the occupation, possesses constitutional institutions and a people who believe in the peaceful transfer of power and the rule of law.

Throughout its long history, the Palestinian people have proven to be among the most committed peoples in the region to democratic practice. Palestine has witnessed presidential, legislative, local, and syndicate elections in the most difficult circumstances, and popular turnout has always been an expression of the belief that democracy is an integral part of the national project, and not a luxury linked to conditions of stability.

Today, after many years of electoral disruption due to political division and the circumstances imposed by the occupation, followed by the Israeli war that exacerbated the challenges, it has become necessary to rebuild the popular legitimacy of national institutions, renew trust between citizens and governing institutions, and open the way for the participation of all national forces within the framework of the Palestinian political system.

In this context, President Mahmoud Abbas's decision to proceed with issuing a decree to hold presidential and legislative elections, despite the political and security complexities and exceptional circumstances, reflects a far-sighted national vision that affirms that institution-building and the renewal of legitimacy cannot remain hostage to crises. This decision carries a clear message that the Palestinian leadership believes that the strength of the political system derives its legitimacy first from the will of the people, and that confronting the existential challenges imposed by the occupation requires strengthening the internal front, fortifying constitutional institutions, and renewing trust between citizens and state institutions, thereby solidifying the foundations of good governance and enhancing the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in confronting projects that target their national rights.

Furthermore, President Abbas's insistence on holding elections, even amidst war, aggression, continued occupation, and its attempts to disrupt Palestinian political life, confirms that the Palestinian national project does not stop at crisis management, but rather looks to the future and the building of an independent Palestinian state on solid constitutional and democratic foundations. The Palestinian leadership realizes that the world looks at the ability of peoples to entrench democratic values and the rule of law, and therefore this decision does not only address the Palestinian interior, but also sends a message to the international community that Palestine, despite being a state under occupation, is moving forward in establishing a modern state model that believes in political pluralism, the peaceful transfer of power, and respect for the will of the voter, and that the occupation alone is the real obstacle to completing this democratic path, not the Palestinian will.

Holding elections does not only mean choosing a president or members of a legislative council, but rather represents a strategic step towards reorganizing the internal Palestinian house, strengthening national unity, and reactivating constitutional institutions that form the basis of any modern political system. Moreover, the existence of an elected legislative council capable of exercising its oversight and legislative role enhances the ability of the Palestinian political system to face internal and external challenges.

From a political perspective, the elections represent a direct message to global public opinion, and to governments and international institutions, that the Palestinian state, for which its people are struggling for full recognition, is not just a political slogan, but a project for a modern state based on institutions, a constitution, and respect for popular will.

The international community, which constantly calls for reform and strengthening good governance, cannot ignore the importance of supporting the holding of Palestinian elections. Rather, it should exert pressure on Israel not to obstruct this national entitlement, especially in occupied Jerusalem, whose people must participate in it as they participated in previous entitlements, considering Jerusalem an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory and the capital of the Palestinian state.

The elections will also send an important message to Arab and Islamic public opinion, stating that the Palestinian people, despite the extent of sacrifices and destruction, are still building their national institutions and adhering to the comprehensive national project, and that their battle is not only a battle for liberation from occupation, but also a battle to build a modern democratic state based on political participation and the rule of law.

In light of this, the next stage requires strengthening trust between citizens and their national institutions, and involving youth, women, academic and community elites in decision-making, because the future of the Palestinian issue will only be built through a broad national partnership based on free popular will.

At the same time, elections should be part of a comprehensive national vision to end the division, unify institutions between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and rebuild the Palestinian political system on the foundations of partnership, pluralism, and recourse to ballot boxes as the only civilized means of transferring power.

It cannot be overlooked that the occupation will try, as it has done in the past, to obstruct this path or impose restrictions on it, especially in occupied Jerusalem. However, adhering to the right to hold elections in Jerusalem represents in itself a political and legal battle that affirms Palestinian sovereignty over the city and rejects any Israeli attempt to impose a fait accompli.

Elections are not the end of the road, but rather the beginning of a new stage of renewing the national project, strengthening the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, and solidifying Palestine's image before the world as a state under occupation, but one that believes in democracy, pluralism, and respect for popular will, and seeks to build strong institutions capable of leading the stage of liberation and independence.

It is time for Palestinian democracy to regain its natural role, and for elections to become a unifying station for all members of the Palestinian people, establishing a new stage whose title is unity, legitimacy, and national partnership, thereby enhancing Palestine's position at the Arab, Islamic, and international levels, and confirming that the occupation, no matter how long it lasts, will not prevent the Palestinian people's determination to build their free, democratic, and independent state.