In July 2026, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for legislative elections to be held on 28 November 2026, following amendments to Decree-Law No. (1) of 2007 on General Elections, most recently Decree-Law No. (17) of 2026. The elections would mark the first legislative vote since 2006; the Palestinian Legislative Council was suspended in 2007 and dissolved in 2018.
The Civil Coalition for Elections stressed that the elections should form part of an inclusive national process that restores citizens’ electoral rights, contributes to ending political division, and guarantees elections across the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
The Coalition raised particular concern over political and ideological conditions introduced for candidacy, warning that vague or politically interpretable requirements could restrict political pluralism and be used to exclude candidates, lists, or political forces based on their positions or programs. It called for restoring the eligibility framework applied to the elections scheduled for 2021, guaranteeing equal opportunities and fundamental freedoms, and holding legislative and presidential elections concurrently or setting a clear date for presidential elections. The Coalition also called for legislative and presidential elections to be held concurrently, or for a clear date for presidential elections to be established, alongside an inclusive national dialogue before electoral procedures begin.
In parallel, following the adoption of the 2026 Electoral System for the Palestinian National Council (PNC), the Coalition called for reviewing provisions governing representation of Palestinians inside Palestine and in the diaspora. Under the current arrangement, elected Legislative Council members would represent Palestinians inside Palestine in the PNC, while additional members could be appointed. The Coalition warned that insufficiently clear criteria for selecting representatives abroad and in the diaspora could allow selective or non-representative appointments.
Restrictive candidacy conditions, unclear safeguards for political representation, and possible limitations on political participation could undermine pluralism and meaningful electoral choice. Experience from the April 2026 local elections, where half of the councils were decided by acclamation, further highlights this risk.