Civil Coalition for Elections Rejects Election Postponement and Warns of Its Consequences: Dialogue Must Not Be a Substitute for Elections

The Civil Coalition for Elections expresses its rejection of the presidential decree postponing the elections and its disappointment with the positions taken by Palestinian factions that provided political cover for this decision, rather than assuming their responsibilities in overcoming the obstacles to holding the elections. The Coalition affirms that elections are an inherent right of citizens, not a grant from any political party, and must not remain hostage to factional agreements and political calculations. Elections are a constitutional and national entitlement necessary for renewing legitimacy and strengthening popular participation.

The Coalition warns of the dangers of postponing the elections at this critical juncture, amid plans aimed at entrenching the separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and establishing alternative bodies to replace Palestinian national institutions. Elections would have provided an important opportunity to reaffirm the unity of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and the unity of the Palestinian political system, as well as to strengthen the legitimacy of national institutions in the face of attempts to fragment and marginalize them. The decision also comes in the wake of a series of international recognitions of the State of Palestine, making the strengthening of the legitimacy and democratic representation of Palestinian institutions a national and diplomatic necessity.

In this context, the Coalition reiterates its rejection of the procedures followed in appointing members of the Palestinian National Council representing Palestinian communities abroad, in the absence of transparency and clear selection criteria. It calls for these procedures to be reviewed and corrected, and for the criteria governing representation and selection to be made public. The Coalition also rejects the use of appointment as a substitute for elections in selecting representatives of the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

The Coalition affirms that comprehensive national dialogue is a national necessity and an enduring demand. However, it must not become a new pretext for postponing elections or lead to a repetition of previous dialogue experiences that ended without results or without commitments to implement their outcomes. Accordingly, the Coalition calls for serious dialogue within a defined timeframe and with clear objectives, going beyond the factional framework to include civil society organizations, trade unions and federations, representatives of youth and women, and Palestinians in the diaspora.

The Coalition stresses that the priority of this dialogue must be to reach agreement on mechanisms for ensuring the successful conduct of elections and on how to manage Palestinian differences within inclusive national institutions that exclude no one. These institutions should serve as a reference framework for national decision-making through clear democratic mechanisms, ensuring political partnership and respect for the will of the people.

Accordingly, the Coalition calls for the issuance of a presidential decree setting a new and binding date for holding presidential and legislative elections simultaneously, no later than the first quarter of 2027. This should preserve the preparations and procedures already completed, prevent the waste of resources and efforts, and safeguard the credibility of the electoral process and the confidence it enjoys locally and internationally.

The Coalition extends its appreciation and recognition to the Central Elections Commission, its Chairperson, members, and staff, for their significant and professional efforts to overcome obstacles and complete the preparations necessary for the elections. It commends the Commission’s clear position in preserving its independence and rejecting any politicization of its work or any attempt to use it as a pretext to justify postponement.

The Coalition affirms that national unity cannot be achieved by postponing recourse to the will of the people, but by enabling citizens to choose their representatives and by building inclusive, democratic national institutions. Elections are not a political luxury that can be dispensed with in times of crisis; they are a national necessity for strengthening unity, renewing legitimacy, and protecting Palestinian representation against the dangers of fragmentation and replacement.

Civil Coalition for Elections

13 October 2026

Member Organizations

• Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR)

• Arab World Democracy and Elections Monitor (Al-Marsad)

• Civil Committee for Election Monitoring

• Coalition for Integrity and Accountability – AMAN

• Center for Human Rights and Democracy Media (SHAMS)

• Thabat Center

• Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center

• Al-Najdah Social Association for Palestinian Women’s Development

• Civil Commission for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law – Istiqlal

• Al-Haq

• Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Legal Profession and Judiciary – Musawa

• Palestinian Initiative for Deepening Global Dialogue and Democracy – MIFTAH

• Center for the Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights

• Palestinian Center for Peace and Democracy Issues

• Palestinian Foundation for Empowerment and Local Development – REFORM

• Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development

• Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation (PYALARA)

• Sharek Youth Forum

• Center for Civil Society Studies – CIVITAS Gaza

• Women’s Affairs Technical Committee